Quick Take: Investors looking for the best monthly dividend stocks to buy for passive income can consider companies that provide regular monthly payouts. These stocks offer recurring cash flow that investors can reinvest to compound returns or use to cover living expenses. Beyond established REITs like Realty Income (O), monthly dividend opportunities include agency mortgage REIT AGNC Investment (AGNC), experiential real estate owner EPR Properties (EPR), and middle-market lender Main Street Capital (MAIN).
The Power of Monthly Dividend Compounding for Passive Income
One of the best ways to build wealth is with dividend stocks, especially those that will pay you every month just to hold a position.
Baseline Benchmark: Realty Income (NYSE: O)
Look at Realty Income (SYM: O), for example.
With a yield of 5.03%, the real estate investment trust (REIT) has been paying out a monthly dividend for 29 consecutive years. In fact, its latest dividend of $0.2635 per share is payable on November 15 to shareholders of record as of November 1.
But it’s not the only one. Here are three more that’ll pay you to hold a position.
3 High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stocks to Hold
1. AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: AGNC) — 13.7% Yield Mortgage REIT
With a yield of 13.77%, AGNC Investment (AGNC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities, where principal and interest payments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or a U.S. government agency. Even better, it just declared a 12-cent monthly dividend, payable November 12 to shareholders of record as of October 31.
Helping, the Federal Reserve sparked a rush of homebuyers with recent cuts to interest rates. In fact, homebuyers locked in about 70% more mortgages than they did a month earlier on September 23, as noted by Redfin. Even better, with more interest rate cuts likely, mortgage demand could push even higher, which is great news for AGNC.
2. EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR) — 7% Yield Entertainment & Experiential REIT
With a yield of just over 7%, EPR Properties (EPR) is a REIT that invests in amusement parks, movie theaters, ski resorts and other entertainment properties. It just declared a monthly dividend of $0.285 per share, payable November 15 to shareholders of record as of October 31.
Helping, analysts at Raymond James just upgraded EPR to a strong buy rating with a $54 price target. All thanks to renewed confidence in box office sales.
3. Main Street Capital (NYSE: MAIN) — Lower Middle-Market BDC Powerhouse
With a yield of 5.66%, Main Street Capital (MAIN) is a business development company that specializes in equity capital to lower middle market companies.
It also just paid its $0.245 per share dividend on October 15, and will pay that again on November 15 to shareholders of record as of November 8. And it’ll do so again on December 13 for shareholders of record as of December 6.
Business development companies holding senior secured debt in businesses with durable economic moat stocks traits help preserve capital across economic pullbacks.
How Interest Rate Cuts Catalyze Growth for Dividend Equities
Investors tracking monthly distribution income across REITs and BDCs can use Portfolio Payouts to structure their monthly dividend income.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monthly Dividend Stocks
Q1: Why do some companies pay dividends monthly instead of quarterly?
A: Most monthly dividend payers are Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Business Development Companies (BDCs). These structures help explain why some of the best monthly dividend stocks to buy for passive income generate recurring distributions. REITs collect rental income, while BDCs earn interest from loans to businesses. Both can distribute cash flow to shareholders on a monthly schedule.
Q2: What is the main risk of investing in high-yield mortgage REITs like AGNC?
A: Mortgage REITs (mREITs) like AGNC use leverage to invest in residential mortgage-backed securities. Their margins depend on short-term interest rates and Federal Reserve policy. While yields can be high (13%+), fluctuating rate environments can impact Net Asset Value (NAV).
Q3: What makes Main Street Capital (MAIN) a popular monthly dividend stock?
A: Main Street Capital is an internally managed BDC that has never decreased its regular monthly dividend since its 2007 IPO. It finances lower middle-market companies and regularly pays supplemental dividends alongside its monthly distributions.
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Written by Ian Cooper
