The Smartest S&P 500 Dividend Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Despite rising Treasury yields making fixed-income investments more attractive, Realty Income (O) remains a compelling dividend stock pick. The REIT offers a 5.9% forward yield, has raised its payout 136 times since its 1994 IPO, maintains a 96%+ occupancy rate across 15,500+ properties, and trades at just 12x its 2026 AFFO estimate with strong dividend coverage.