3 Reasons Realty Income Stock Belongs in Every Dividend Investor's Portfolio

Realty Income (O), a major retail REIT with nearly 15,600 global properties, is highlighted as an excellent dividend stock for investors seeking passive income and portfolio safety. The company offers a 5.3% dividend yield (nearly five times the S&P 500 average), has paid monthly dividends for 56 consecutive years, and raised dividends for 115 consecutive quarters. Despite challenging real estate conditions, Realty Income maintains strong performance with a 98.9% occupancy rate and 6.6% year-over-year AFFO growth.