Dividend investors love big yields. Who wouldn't want to get back 4% or 5% (or more) each year for every dollar you invest? But those high-yield stocks can also be traps if the companies paying them can't afford them.

Realty Income (NYSE: O) is a dividend stock that yields more than 5% at its current share price. The company even pays a monthly dividend, which is uncommon for most U.S. companies.

So the ultimate question is, can you trust Realty Income to keep the checks coming? Let's break down its fundamentals and see why the dividend is so high and whether dividend investors can own Realty Income and sleep well at night.

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Source Fool.com