For income investors, dividends are the sweet, reliable drip of financial independence. But when those payments come monthly, rather than quarterly, that drip starts to feel more like a steady stream. Monthly dividend Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are beloved for their predictable cash flow, especially by retirees, early FIRE movement enthusiasts, and savvy portfolio builders who want both income and upside potential.
While not all REITs pay monthly, a few standout names combine the benefits of regular payouts with solid long-term growth prospects. In this post, we’ll break down three of the best monthly dividend REITs that offer investors reliable income today and long-term capital appreciation tomorrow.
Whether you’re building a dividend snowball or just want a steady payout that matches your Netflix subscription, these REITs belong on your watchlist.
Why Monthly Dividends Matter
Most companies pay dividends quarterly. But monthly dividends can have several advantages:
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Smoother Cash Flow – Helpful for budgeting or living off dividends.
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Faster Compounding – If you're reinvesting, those earlier payouts give you a head start.
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Psychological Satisfaction – There’s just something comforting about seeing income roll in every 30 days.
For investors who prioritize consistent income, especially in retirement, monthly payers can help reduce the financial rollercoaster of relying on large quarterly checks.
But the key is finding REITs that offer more than just frequency. You want sustainability, quality properties, strong management, and growth potential.
What to Look For in Monthly Dividend REITs
Before we dive into our picks, let’s define what separates the contenders from the pretenders in the monthly dividend world:
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Sustainability of Dividends – Is the payout ratio reasonable? Is it covered by funds from operations (FFO)?
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Balance Sheet Strength – Can the REIT weather rising interest rates, economic slowdowns, or tenant issues?
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Growth Catalysts – Is the REIT adding properties, raising rents, or entering new markets?
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Management Quality – Are the stewards of your capital aligned with shareholder interests?
With those metrics in mind, here are three top-tier monthly dividend REITs poised to deliver both reliable income and growth over time.
1. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O)
“The Monthly Dividend Company”
You can’t talk about monthly dividend REITs without starting with the king.
Realty Income literally trademarked the phrase "The Monthly Dividend Company" — and for good reason. It’s a Dividend Aristocrat (over 25 consecutive years of dividend increases) with an ironclad reputation for stability.
Snapshot:
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Dividend Yield: ~5.8%
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Dividend Streak: 30+ years of monthly dividends
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Portfolio: 13,400+ properties in all 50 states + international
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Tenant Base: Includes Walgreens, FedEx, Dollar General, Walmart
Why It’s a Top Pick:
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Triple-Net Leases: Tenants pay property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. This lowers Realty Income’s operating costs and increases margin predictability.
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Diversification: No single tenant represents more than 4% of revenue. The company is spread across retail, industrial, and even gaming properties.
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Defensive Retail: Realty Income focuses on necessity-based tenants — think pharmacies, convenience stores, and discount retailers — less vulnerable to online disruption.
Growth Drivers:
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Recent International Expansion: Realty Income now owns properties in the UK, Spain, and Italy — expanding its growth runway.
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Acquisitions: The company recently acquired Spirit Realty Capital, boosting its portfolio significantly.
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REIT-to-REIT Mergers: Realty Income is positioning itself as a consolidator in the sector.
Risks:
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Interest Rates: As with all REITs, higher rates can weigh on borrowing costs and stock valuation.
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Retail Exposure: Even with defensiveness, retail remains under pressure from e-commerce trends.
Bottom Line:
Realty Income is the blue-chip of monthly payers. It won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s a solid, stable foundation for any income portfolio.
2. STAG Industrial (NYSE: STAG)
“Industrial Real Estate for the 21st Century”
If Realty Income is the trusted veteran, STAG Industrial is the younger cousin hitting the gym and stacking logistics warehouses.
STAG focuses on single-tenant industrial properties — think warehouses, distribution centers, and light manufacturing.
Snapshot:
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Dividend Yield: ~4.1%
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Monthly Payer Since: 2013
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Portfolio: 570+ buildings, 112 million square feet
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Geographic Spread: 40+ states, heavily focused on secondary U.S. markets
Why It’s a Top Pick:
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E-Commerce Tailwinds: As online shopping grows, so does demand for last-mile distribution hubs. STAG’s properties are perfectly positioned for that.
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Tenant Stickiness: Industrial tenants invest heavily in customizing facilities, leading to longer leases and lower turnover.
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Efficient Model: STAG’s focus on smaller, secondary markets gives it pricing power and higher cap rates.
Growth Drivers:
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Acquisition Pipeline: STAG is actively expanding its footprint with disciplined acquisitions.
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Tenant Diversification: No single tenant accounts for more than 3% of revenue.
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Rent Escalations: Most leases include annual rent increases, boosting organic growth.
Risks:
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Concentration Risk: Industrial tenants can be highly specialized — if one goes under, replacing them isn’t always easy.
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Rising Rates: As with other REITs, STAG must borrow to grow — and rising rates can pinch margins.
Bottom Line:
STAG is a great way to play the industrial real estate boom with monthly income and a growing dividend. It’s ideal for investors looking to ride e-commerce trends while getting paid every 30 days.
3. EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR)
“Experiences Over Stuff — and a Monthly Check While You Wait”
EPR is a unique REIT that invests in experiential real estate: movie theaters, ski resorts, amusement parks, and other “experience-based” properties.
That makes it a bit more volatile — but also offers a differentiated way to bet on consumer spending in a post-COVID world.
Snapshot:
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Dividend Yield: ~7.3%
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Monthly Payer Since: 2013 (suspended briefly during COVID, then reinstated)
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Portfolio: 350+ experiential properties
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Tenant Base: Includes AMC Theatres, TopGolf, ski resorts, private schools
Why It’s a Top Pick:
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Niche Dominance: EPR owns a unique corner of the real estate world — few competitors, lots of demand.
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Consumer Behavior: Millennials and Gen Z are spending more on experiences than stuff. EPR is perfectly positioned to benefit.
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High Yield: Among monthly payers, EPR offers one of the highest yields — and management has guided toward dividend growth as occupancy and rents recover.
Growth Drivers:
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Post-COVID Recovery: As travel and entertainment rebound, EPR’s tenants are seeing strong performance.
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Education Investments: EPR is expanding into private and charter schools — providing steadier income alongside its more seasonal assets.
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New Experiences: Think eSports, immersive entertainment, and fitness centers — EPR is actively diversifying within “experiential.”
Risks:
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Tenant Volatility: AMC is a major tenant — and the theater industry faces structural challenges.
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Economic Sensitivity: During downturns, people cut spending on movies and ski trips before food and medicine.
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COVID Memories: Investors still have PTSD from EPR’s dividend suspension in 2020. That reputational damage may linger.
Bottom Line:
EPR is a high-risk, high-reward REIT that offers one of the best yields in the monthly space. If you believe experiences will continue to dominate consumer spending, this is a compelling play — just brace for bumps along the way.
Quick Comparison Table
Putting It All Together
There’s no such thing as a perfect investment — but a diversified trio of monthly payers like O, STAG, and EPR gets you:
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A dependable income stream
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Exposure to multiple real estate sectors
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Growth potential with different economic catalysts
Think of it as building your own mini-ETF of monthly dividend REITs. You get the steady drip of cash flow plus long-term appreciation from smart property management and sector trends.
How to Use These Monthly REITs in a Portfolio
For Retirees:
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Use Realty Income and STAG for stable income.
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Layer in EPR for yield and a bit of spice.
For Dividend Growth Investors:
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Focus on dividend reinvestment.
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These monthly payers help accelerate the compounding effect.
For New Investors:
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DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plans) make these great foundational holdings.
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Use volatility (especially in EPR) to add during dips.
Final Thoughts: Don't Chase Yield — Chase Quality (That Happens To Pay Monthly)
Monthly dividends are great — but only if they’re sustainable, backed by real assets, and run by smart managers.
Realty Income, STAG Industrial, and EPR Properties each bring something unique to the table. Whether you're looking for safe income, industrial growth, or high-yield exposure to post-COVID trends, this trio checks the boxes.
Just remember: yield isn’t everything. Look for long-term viability, balance sheet health, and tenant quality. And with monthly REITs, you get the joy of seeing dividends hit your account 12 times a year — no matter what the market’s doing.
Disclosure: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.