6 REITs That Pay Dividends Regularly (2024)

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are one of the most popular options for investors seeking regular income. A real estate investment trust must distribute more than 90% of its earnings each year in order to maintain its tax-free status. For investors, that means relatively high dividend payments and consistent dividend policies.

REITs rebounded from the subprime mortgage meltdown of 2008 that hammered real property values for some years.

They are popular with investors because they often offer a higher dividend yield than corporate or government bonds. Also, their shares are traded on exchanges, giving them liquidity plus the potential for growth as well as income.

REIT's 2022 annual return, as measured by the MSCI U.S. REIT Index, was -24.51. That is one of just three negative performances out of 14 since 2009.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are an investment that offers steady income.
  • There are a handful of REITs that pay dividends on a monthly basis.
  • Some of the most well-known monthly dividend payers include Realty Income (O), AGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC), and STAG Industrial (STAG).
  • REITs give investors the chance to earn returns from commercial real estate without having to own the actual properties themselves.

REIT Distributions

While some stocks distribute dividends on a quarterly or annual basis, certain REITs pay quarterly or monthly. That can be an advantage for investors, whether the money is used for enhancing income or for reinvestment, especially since more frequent payments compound faster.

Here are a half-dozen REIT prospects, each specializing in a different niche of the real estate sector.

1. AGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC)

AGNC Investment Corp., formerly known as American Capital Agency Corporation, invests in high-quality mortgage-backed securities including pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. These securities are guaranteed by a government-sponsored agency, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

It also invests in some residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities that are not government-guaranteed.

The holdings of the company represent debt that is highly sensitive to changes in market interest rates. Thus, AGNC Investment's holdings are susceptible to interest rate risk. However, management extensively hedges its interest rate risks and regularly rebalances the portfolio.

In July 2023, AGNC Investment Corp. paid a monthly dividend of $0.12 per share (for an annual dividend per share of $1.44). Its dividend yield is 14.22%.

2. Apple Hospitality (APLE)

Apple Hospitality (APLE) specializes in upscale hotels. One of the largest hospitality-sector REITs, it owns and operates (through property management companies) 220 mostly Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels in urban, suburban, and developing markets. The company has consistently reinvested a big portion of its cash flows into its portfolio, resulting in high customer satisfaction and stable capital needs.

In July 2023, the company paid a monthly dividend of $0.08 per share (for an annual dividend per share of $0.96). Its dividend yield is 6.32%.

REITs were established in 1960 by the U.S. Congress to give individual investors the opportunity to earn returns from commercial real estate investments without having to invest in the actual properties.

3. Realty Income (O)

Realty Income (O) was founded in 1969 by William and Joan Clark to provide reliable monthly income to investors. It is a REIT that invests in commercial properties that have long-term leases with high-performance operators. It is the self-proclaimed "Monthly Dividend Company."

Realty Income has declared 637 consecutive dividends over 54 years. And since becoming listed in 1994, it has increased its dividend 121 times. Its average annual shareholder return since 1994 is 14.6%.

This REIT's portfolio consists of a diversified grouping of more than 12,400 free-standing commercial properties that are leased to over 1,250 retail and industrial clients in 84 industries. The company has a presence in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy.

In July 2023, Realty Income paid a monthly dividend of $0.2555 per share (for an annual dividend per share of $3.06). Its dividend yield is 5%.

4. EPR Properties (EPR)

EPR Properties (EPR) is a small-cap growth REIT that focuses primarily on experiential real estate. That is, entertainment, performance, and recreation venues such as theaters, theme parks, and casinos. EPR Properties also has an education property portfolio (specifically private schools and early childhood education centers) but has plans to step away from this type of real estate.

As of the end of 2022, EPR Properties had about $6.2 billion invested in over 250 experiential properties in 44 states plus Ontario, Canada. EPR Properties typically rents its properties using triple net leases with operational, maintenance, insurance, and tax costs borne by its tenants.

In July 2023, the company paid a monthly dividend of $0.275 per share (for an annual dividend per share of $3.30). Its dividend yield is 7.31%

5. LTC Properties (LTC)

LTC Properties, Inc. (LTC) manages a portfolio of senior housing and long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, and memory care facilities. It currently owns over 212 properties in 29 states.

LTC primarily earns its income by leasing its properties using triple net leases and investing in mortgage loans.

In July 2023, the company paid a monthly dividend of $0.19 per share (for an annual dividend per share of $2.28). Its dividend yield is 6.68%.

6. STAG Industrial (STAG)

STAG Industrial (STAG) invests in industrial-use properties, mostly distribution centers and warehouses with some light manufacturing facilities thrown in. As of December 2022, it had 562 properties in 41 states.

STAG primarily leases its buildings to single tenants in a large number of markets. As a result, it doesn't have to contend with the constant turnover that multi-tenant properties like shopping centers and office parks often experience. And it achieves a healthier diversification than companies focused on a few primary markets Its weighted average lease length is about 4.7 years.

In July 2023, the company paid a monthly dividend of $0.1225 per share (for an annual dividend per share of $1.47). Its dividend yield is 3.87%.

What Is a REIT?

A REIT, or real estate investment trust, is a company that invests in income-producing real estate properties. It passes on part of its earnings to investors as distributions. Most REITs are publicly traded companies.

Are REITs Good Investments?

Potentially. They provide investors with a diversification opportunity and a regular income stream through dividends. REITs also offer the possibility for long-term capital appreciation, which adds to investors' return.

How Are REIT Dividends Taxed?

Normally, REIT dividends are taxed as ordinary income at an investor's tax bracket rate. Some REITs offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs). Reinvested dividends buy additional shares of the trust.

The Bottom Line

REITs are prime investment choices for many investors due to the regular income they provide and their liquidity. They often offer attractive returns and can help to diversify a portfolio focused on equities and bonds.

However, REITs can be sensitive to interest rate changes. They can also have high fees. Investors should be sure to understand their costs and how they operate before buying shares.

6 REITs That Pay Dividends Regularly (2024)

FAQs

What is the REIT that pays a monthly dividend? ›

The Top 10 list of companies that have paid monthly dividends in 2022 includes ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc., Orchid Island Capital, Inc., AGNC Investment Corp., Oxford Square Capital Corp., Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT, SLR Investment Corp., PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd., Main Street Capital ...

Is agnc dividend safe? ›

AGNC Investment is currently earning a high enough return to maintain its dividend. That suggests the payout looks safe for the foreseeable future.

What is the average REIT dividend payout? ›

As of April 8, 2024 publicly traded U.S. equity REITs posted a one-year average dividend yield of 4.35 percent. The health care REIT sector recorded the highest one-year average dividend yield among this group, at 4.90 percent, outperforming the broader Dow Jones Equity All REIT Index by 0.75 percentage points.

Are high dividend REITs safe? ›

Are REITs Risky Investments? In general, REITs are not considered especially risky, especially when they have diversified holdings and are held as part of a diversified portfolio. REITs are, however, sensitive to interest rates and may not be as tax-friendly as other investments.

Are REIT dividends worth it? ›

Since REITs are required by the IRS to pay out 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, REIT dividends are often much higher than the average stock on the S&P 500. One of the best ways to receive passive income from REITs is through the compounding of these high-yield dividends.

How risky is AGNC stock? ›

AGNC Investment has a very different business model. The mortgage REIT invests in mortgage-backed securities (MBSes) protected against credit losses by government agencies like Fannie Mae. That makes them very low-risk investments. However, they're also relatively low-return investments.

Is AGNC still a good investment? ›

AGNC Investment has 8.23% upside potential, based on the analysts' average price target. Is AGNC a Buy, Sell or Hold? AGNC Investment has a conensus rating of Strong Buy which is based on 7 buy ratings, 2 hold ratings and 0 sell ratings.

Does AGNC have a future? ›

AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). It offers a huge 15.3% dividend yield. And first-quarter 2023 financial results were solid, with book value up 1.6% so far in 2024 and earnings handily covering the dividend payment.

Why is the agnc dividend so high? ›

High dividend payments make sense, but how exactly can the yield be as high as 15%? Debt is the simplest answer. AGNC, for example, finances much of its business through debt. It also issues both common and preferred stock so it can acquire more mortgage assets that generate cash to satisfy the sky-high dividend.

Why is the NLY dividend so high? ›

The first thing to understand about Annaly is that, as a REIT, the company qualifies for special tax advantages. But to get those, Annaly must pay out at least 90% of its annual taxable income in dividends. This is why most REITs are known for having above-average dividend yields, although definitely not 17%.

Are REITs better than dividend stocks? ›

REITs provide steady income with a few notable drawbacks. Dividend stocks can generate bigger long-term total returns than REITs.

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