Is This Dividend Aristocrat REIT a Buy?

Realty Income (NYSE: O) is so committed to its unusual policy of sending its shareholders dividends each month that it trademarked the phrase "The Monthly Dividend Company."

But aside from its track record as a Dividend Aristocrat with 27 consecutive years of payout hikes under its belt, there's another reason that conservative investors will love the stock now: It tends to hold up better than average in down markets. While the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite are down 5% and 9%, respectively, year to date, Realty Income has slipped just a bit more than 1%.

But is the stock a smart buy now for income investors?

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Source Fool.com