Investors are constantly searching for safe havens during periods of market volatility. So far this year, the S&P 500 is down around 3%.
Real estate investment trusts, however, can offer you remarkable stability and capital protection. One exceptional choice to consider right now is Realty Income (NYSE:O). This business operates an incredibly robust portfolio of over 15,500 properties across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
The biggest draw for income-focused investors is that the company just announced another generous increase to its payout. The declared monthly cash dividend will rise to $0.2705 per share, representing an annualized amount of $3.246. Incredibly, this marks the 134th time the business has raised its dividend since listing on the public markets in 1994.
Since being founded, it has paid a monthly dividend for 669 consecutive periods. It has been a tremendous growth stock for investors for not only years but decades, and there's little doubt that will continue in the future.
Currently, the stock provides a highly attractive yield of approximately 5%. That rate is substantially higher than what you would get from an average index fund today. Furthermore, receiving your cash every single month allows for faster reinvesting and compounding compared to the standard quarterly schedule that you'll get with most dividend stocks.
Beyond just the income, shares have also delivered fantastic capital appreciation, rising by 15% so far this year. Realty Income is an excellent stock for anyone who wants to collect a great dividend or just wants a safe-haven investment to hold on to for the long haul.
