Investors looking at real estate investment trusts (REITs) will likely run across "The Monthly Dividend Company," which is the nickname that Realty Income (NYSE: O) has given itself. To be fair, the net lease REIT has a great history behind it that could justify the nickname and there's no reason to expect the future to be any less impressive than the past. But does that make it worth buying right now?
Realty Income has increased its dividend every year for more than a quarter of a century. The average annualized increase over the past decade was roughly 5% a year, which outpaces the historical growth rate of inflation. Meanwhile, that dividend is paid monthly, as the REIT's chosen moniker suggests. For a retiree, buying Realty Income is kind of like replacing a paycheck.
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Source Fool.com