Key Points

• Brookfield Infrastructure is capitalizing on the decarbonization, digitalization, and deglobalization megatrends.

• Realty Income sits at the intersection of two multitrillion-dollar market opportunities.

• Main Street Capital is cashing in on a multitrillion-dollar market overlooked by banks.

• 10 stocks we like better than Realty Income ›

I carefully select stocks to add to my portfolio each month, using the cash I receive from dividend payments and the added funds I deposit into my account. Here are the five stocks I'm most excited about buying these days.

Brookfield Infrastructure

Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIPC)(NYSE: BIP) is a global infrastructure operator with a diverse portfolio of utility, energy midstream, transportation, and data infrastructure businesses. These assets generate stable and growing cash flow, backed by government-regulated rate structures and long-term inflation-linked contracts.

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The company pays 60% to 70% of its stable cash flow as dividends (current yield: 4.4%), retaining the rest for growth projects. Brookfield also acquires new infrastructure assets to enhance its growth, focusing on opportunities benefiting from the decarbonization, deglobalization, and digitalization megatrends.

Brookfield expects to grow its per-share funds from operations (FFO) by more than 10% annually in the coming years. That easily supports its plan to increase its dividend at a 5% to 9% annual rate. This combination of growth and income could fuel robust returns for investors like me.

EQT

EQT (NYSE: EQT) is a leading natural gas producer with a premier position in the low-cost Appalachian region (Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia). It also has an integrated midstream business that helps further reduce costs while providing greater access to higher-value gas markets. EQT's large-scale and low-cost operations enable it to produce higher and more durable cash flow compared to its peers.

The gas producer's differentiated strategy puts it in a strong position to capitalize on the coming surge in U.S. gas demand. The U.S. has become a leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter over the past decade, with 18 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) currently in service. An additional 13 Bcf/d of capacity is currently under construction or nearing approval.

And surging power demand from AI data centers could fuel an additional 10 to 18 Bcf/d of gas demand by 2030. These catalysts should drive up gas prices, enabling leading low-cost producers like EQT to generate significantly more free cash flow in the coming years. That should give it a lot of fuel to increase its 1.2%-yielding dividend.

Realty Income

Realty Income (NYSE: O) is one of the world's largest real estate investment trusts (REITs). The company's diversified portfolio features retail, industrial, gambling, and other properties, including data centers, which it rents under net leases to many of the world's leading companies.

The REIT's long-term net leases provide it with very stable rental income because tenants cover all property operating costs, including routine maintenance, real estate taxes, and building insurance.

The landlord sits at the crossroads of two megatrends. There's a nearly $50 trillion need for stable and growing income to support an aging global population in retirement. Meanwhile, corporations currently have $14 trillion of real estate sitting on their balance sheets.

Realty Income's attractive monthly dividend (5.4%) can help more retirees meet their income needs. The REIT has consistently increased its dividend, raising it for 111 straight quarters. Meanwhile, its strategy of partnering with the world's leading companies by acquiring their real estate in sale-leaseback transactions should enable it to continue this record of increases.

Main Street Capital

Main Street Capital (NYSE: MAIN) provides debt and equity capital to lower middle-market companies ($10 million to $150 million in annual revenue) and debt funding to middle market companies (over $150 million in revenue). The company helps provide financing to growing businesses that are often overlooked by banks. This private credit market is massive at more than $2 trillion and growing rapidly, with a more than $30 trillion total addressable market opportunity.

The business development company's (BDC) private credit investments generate high income yields (in the low double digits). And many of its private equity investments also generate dividend income.

These investments provide Main Street Capital with lucrative sources of recurring income to pay dividends. The company pays a stable and growing monthly payout, which it has increased 132% since its initial public offering in 2007.

It also periodically pays supplemental quarterly dividends (with a 6.6% yield, based on its last payments). Given the growth ahead in private credit, Main Street's dividend payments should continue rising.

Mid-America Apartment Communities

Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE: MAA) is a leading apartment REIT. The landlord owns over 100,000 apartments across Sun Belt markets that benefit from strong population and employment growth.

Recently, many of these markets saw a lot of new apartment construction as developers took advantage of low interest rates after the pandemic. This increase in supply has kept rent growth in check.

However, with the peak in new supplies now past, and renter demand remaining robust, rent growth should reaccelerate in the coming years. Mid-America is further capitalizing on this upward trend by investing about $1 billion in new apartments that it expects to complete over the next few years.

This combination of accelerating rent growth and the incremental income from new communities should provide a meaningful boost to the REIT's bottom line, allowing it to continue increasing its 4.3%-yielding dividend.

Cashing in on clear catalysts

Each of these five companies is in a strong position to benefit from clear growth trends. As their earnings grow, I expect them to continue increasing their dividends, which should enable them to deliver strong total returns. That is why they are at the top of my buy list right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Realty Income right now?

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Matt DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Infrastructure, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, EQT, Main Street Capital, Mid-America Apartment Communities, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends EQT, Mid-America Apartment Communities, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Realty Income trades at a high dividend yield, in part because of its low valuation.

• Mid-America Apartment Communities has dual growth drivers ahead.

• Vici Properties has a winning formula to create value for shareholders.

• 10 stocks we like better than Realty Income ›

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are known for delivering steady dividend income. They own income-producing properties and use the cash flow to pay growing dividends, often with above-average yields.

Realty Income (NYSE: O), Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE: MAA), and Vici Properties (NYSE: VICI) stand out as the top REITs I recommend for buying to collect dividend income right now. Here's why I think these opportunities are especially compelling at the moment.

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High returns at an attractive value

Realty Income distinguishes itself with one of the most consistent dividend records in the sector. The diversified REIT, which owns retail, industrial, gaming, and other properties, has increased its monthly dividend payment 131 times since its public market debut in 1994, with an impressive streak of 111 consecutive quarterly raises. Over that time, the landlord has grown its payout at a solid 4.2% compound annual rate.

Currently yielding an impressive 5.5%, Realty Income easily outpaces the REIT sector average of around 4% and dramatically surpasses the S&P 500 yield of less than 1.2%. A big factor driving this superior yield is its appealingly low valuation -- 13 times funds from operations (FFO), versus 18 for other REITs in the S&P 500.

Despite its low valuation, Realty Income has consistently delivered better total operational returns -- combining dividend yield and FFO growth -- than its peers, with 9.7% annualized over the past five years compared to 7.7%. With a fortress balance sheet, the REIT has the financial flexibility to continue growing its portfolio, FFO, and dividend at solid rates. That positions it to continue producing attractive total returns.

Dual growth drivers

Currently yielding 4.3%, Mid-America Apartment Communities stands out as an exceptionally reliable dividend stock. The apartment owner has never reduced its dividends in over 30 years as a public company. Although it hasn't increased its dividend every year, last year marked its impressive 15th consecutive annual dividend increase. Over the past decade, the REIT's payout has grown at a 7% compound annual rate, significantly outperforming the sector average.

The REIT has recently faced slower rent growth in its markets because of an increase in new apartment supply. That headwind is easing, however, as strong renter demand absorbs these new units. Now, with limited new supply on the horizon and robust rental demand persisting, rental growth rates are likely to accelerate again in the coming years.

While other developers have scaled back on new projects, Mid-America is currently moving forward with about $1 billion in apartment development projects across eight new communities. The company anticipates starting three to four projects this year and has ample land to continue expanding. Accelerating rent growth, combined with the incremental income as these new developments stabilize, should drive strong income and dividend growth for this REIT in the coming years.

The peer-leading growth should continue

Vici Properties, a REIT focused on investing in casinos and other entertainment properties, currently yields 5.3%. It has increased its dividend in all seven years since its inception. Over that period, its payout has increased at a 7.4% compound annual rate -- significantly faster than the 2.3% average for other REITs with triple net (NNN) leases.

Growth prospects remain strong for this experiential REIT. As a larger share of its long-term NNN leases index rent to inflation -- 42% this year, rising to 90% by 2035 -- Vici Properties' rents should steadily climb, growing faster when inflation remains elevated.

Vici Properties also benefits from its strategy of establishing relationships with leading experiential companies. This approach allows the REIT to grow as its partners continue to expand. It supports new developments through real estate-backed loans, which often come with a future sale-leaseback option, and also funds expansion projects at existing properties. It will also buy other properties from its partners or third-party investors.

Vici's winning formula -- high dividend income, strong rent growth, and steady new investments -- positions investors to potentially earn attractive total returns in the future.

Great REITs to buy for dividends right now

Realty Income, Mid-America Apartment Communities, and Vici Properties have strong records of paying and growing dividends. Their high-yield payouts, proven performance, and future growth potential make them my top three REITs to buy right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Realty Income right now?

Before you buy stock in Realty Income, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Realty Income wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $668,155!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,106,071!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,070% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 184% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025

Matt DiLallo has positions in Mid-America Apartment Communities, Realty Income, and Vici Properties. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mid-America Apartment Communities and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Vici Properties. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.