A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-generating real estate. REITs allow investors to gain exposure to real estate without the burden of managing physical properties, and they are legally required to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends.

Some REITs, like EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR) and Reality Income (NYSE: O), even distribute dividends on a monthly basis, which can provide steady income for investors, particularly retirees. So, let's look at these two REITs and see whether they are worthy of your portfolio.

If you frequent movie theaters, eat-and-play concepts like TopGolf, amusement parks, or ski hills, chances are you've visited a location owned by EPR Properties. The REIT owns 359 properties across 44 states and Canada, collecting rent from its experiential tenants. The company has paid a regular dividend since going public in 1997 and switched from a quarterly to a monthly payout in 2013.

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Source Fool.com