Monthly dividend stocks are companies that pay dividends to shareholders monthly, rather than the far more typical quarterly or less frequent payments. A monthly dividend stock can be useful if you're using dividends to pay living expenses.
With those dividend payments in mind, here's a closer look at the top monthly high-yield dividend stocks for 2026. The combination makes these stocks great for earning passive income.
Top monthly dividend stocks to consider
Dozens of dividend stocks pay monthly dividends in 2026. However, not all of them are worth an investor's consideration. Some don't make the cut due to a below-average dividend yield or slow dividend growth. Others are at a higher risk of reducing dividends if market conditions deteriorate. That narrows the options considerably.
Here's a list of the best monthly dividend stocks to consider.
Let's take a closer look at these top monthly dividend stocks. Each offers a much higher dividend yield than the average stock in the S&P 500 (1.15% as of Feb. 10, 2026).
1. Realty Income
Realty Income (O -1.79%) is the clear leader of monthly payers. It bills itself as "The Monthly Dividend Company," having paid 667 consecutive monthly dividends as of February 2026.
NYSE: O
Key Data Points
Since its 1994 initial public offering (IPO), Realty Income has increased its dividend 132 times while raising the payout at a 4.2% compound annual rate, giving this real estate investment trust (REIT) 32 years of dividend increases as a public company.
Realty Income has lots of room to grow despite its tenants being slower-growth businesses. The company estimates the global market opportunity for the single-tenant net lease real estate that it targets to be $13.9 trillion. That's a big opportunity to continue consolidating tenants' properties under its ownership, growing the payout, and generally rewarding patient investors every month.
2. EPR Properties
EPR Properties (EPR -3.77%) is a REIT specializing in owning experiential real estate properties. These include movie theaters, eat-and-play venues, casinos, ski resorts, gaming facilities, themed lodging, amusement and water parks, fitness centers, and more.
NYSE: EPR
Key Data Points
It secures these properties by signing triple net leases with the venue operators, meaning the tenants bear the responsibility for building insurance, maintenance, and real estate taxes. EPR works with some of the largest and most popular operators in the businesses above, which, combined, make up $100 billion in market opportunity.
Even its movie theater business has stabilized after a brutal few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. EPR owns 3% of all North American theaters, but those locations generate 8% of the box office. Even so, EPR is reducing its exposure to this segment, divesting theaters as it prioritizes business opportunities where there is growth.
As a result, EPR has returned to increasing its dividend. After cutting it by a third during the pandemic, it has since raised the payout three times, and it's up 18% since 2022.
3. Agree Realty
Agree Realty (ADC -0.98%) is another net-lease REIT, but it owns free-standing retail properties. It focuses on owning properties leased to essential retailers, such as supermarkets, home improvement stores, dollar stores, and drug stores that are less susceptible to disruption from e-commerce or a recession. This strategy enables Agree Realty to generate steady rental income to support its dividend.
NYSE: ADC
Key Data Points
A quick look at its dividend history can be misleading. The shift from a quarterly to a monthly dividend in 2021 can make it look like it cut its payout that year. But on an annualized basis, it has raised its payout every year since coming through the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
This REIT has increased its dividend at a 5.3% compound annual rate over the past decade, and two increases in 2025 have bumped the payout 3.6% higher. That upward trend should continue as the company keeps expanding its portfolio.
The retail REIT expects to invest at least $1.25 billion in real estate in 2026. Between that steady portfolio growth and strong tenant relationships (it has more than nine years in weighted average lease terms under contract), Agree Realty should remain a modest, reliable monthly dividend grower for years to come.
4. LTC Properties
LTC Properties (LTC -1.19%) is a healthcare REIT. It primarily invests in senior housing and skilled nursing properties secured by triple net leases, mortgage loans, and other cash-generating investment structures. The strategy gives the REIT a relatively steady income to support its monthly dividend.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the senior housing sector hard, affecting LTC Properties' tenants. Several struggled to pay rent, leading some to file for bankruptcy. However, LTC's financial strength helped it weather the storm and offset some of the lost income with new investments, allowing it to maintain its monthly dividend when some peers were cutting their payout. Still, LTC has not increased its payout since 2016.
LTC sees some positive long-term trends but operates in a tough industry. In 2030, the number of Americans 65 and older will have doubled from 2010. However, it must continue to stabilize its tenants and align itself with the best operators for that big-picture tailwind to reward shareholders. Meanwhile, investors can earn more than 6% in yield by being patient.
5. Gladstone Commercial Corporation
Gladstone Commercial (GOOD -0.20%) is a diversified REIT that owns net-leased office and industrial properties in the U.S., focusing on secondary markets where it can earn higher investment yields. This strategy enabled Gladstone to generate a very stable income for years, but its streak of more than 200 consecutive monthly dividends, either at or above the prior month's level, came to an end in 2023.
NASDAQ: GOOD
Key Data Points
The culprit -- poorly performing office properties -- led to a 20% dividend cut as the company worked through its portfolio to offload unprofitable properties. While we can't count out another dividend cut, management seems to have stabilized the business and is back on the offensive.
The company has shifted to high-demand industrial properties, retaining office properties that are well tenanted for the long term and offloading the ones it doesn't expect to perform to its expectations. As a result, industrial properties now generate 69% of base rents, while the REIT continues to reduce office space in the mix.
It's still unclear when the dividend will start growing again. With a yield above 10% at recent prices, the market seems to be fearing another payout cut on the horizon.
That makes it a risky investment for income-seekers. But if management can keep up the momentum and make this industrial pivot a success, the risk-reward profile makes Gladstone an interesting monthly dividend stock to consider.
6. SL Green
SL Green (SLG -3.20%), another REIT, is the largest office landlord in New York City. For years, owning Manhattan office buildings -- some of the most highly demanded, irreplaceable real estate assets on Earth -- was a huge strength.
NYSE: SLG
Key Data Points
But the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to more remote and hybrid work have weighed on the office REIT. SL Green's management adapted to the new reality by selling its least desirable and noncore assets and focusing on tenanting its vacant properties at competitive, profitable rates.
This includes a number of transactions in 2025 that enhance the cash flows and debt profile of its retail real estate in the heart of Times Square. While office and some physical retail continue to feel pressure, destination properties like those in Times Square are irreplaceable and should remain valuable for decades to come.
The bad news on the dividend also turned positive over the past year, with the company shifting from having to cut the dividend to raising it by 3% in late 2024. That's a modest increase but a step in the right direction, considering the dividend is still 73% below pre-pandemic levels. While the office environment remains a bit fluid, the worst is likely over for SL Green.
7. Main Street Capital
Unlike the REITs that make up the bulk of this list, Main Street Capital (MAIN -1.02%) is an investment company that lends money to middle-market companies and almost entirely to those that are owned by or being acquired by a private equity fund. This is a relatively unique business, one in which Main Street has been very successful for years.
NYSE: MAIN
Key Data Points
Since going public in 2007, it has delivered more than 1,770% in total returns to its shareholders, while its earnings per share have increased 1,850%. Since 2010, it has more than doubled its dividend, and while management will lower the payout (as it did during the pandemic) when economic pressures are highest, the long term has been regular, consistent payout growth.
How do monthly dividend stocks work?
Monthly dividend stocks work like other dividend-paying companies, with the difference being that instead of the more typical quarterly payout, monthly payers send money to their shareholders (or more commonly, their brokerage accounts) every month. The result is a smaller but more frequent payout.
This is handy for investors who may be using their dividends to cover real-world expenses or who are regularly reinvesting them. Most monthly dividend stocks are REITs, giving them consistent, regular monthly cash flows that make paying their shareholders a little easier.
Pros and cons of investing in monthly dividend stocks
Pros:
- Monthly dividend checks may be preferable if you're using dividends for income now.
- Monthly payers are often extremely dependable dividend stocks.
- Monthly dividend stocks are often REITs, which often also pay higher yields.
Cons:
- Monthly dividend payers are typically REITs, which usually means higher taxes paid on your dividends versus qualified dividends from regular corporations.
- Monthly dividend stocks, like all companies, don't always grow or even maintain their dividends. This article provides some examples of monthly dividend stocks that have had to lower their dividends in the past.
How to invest in monthly dividend stocks
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account, where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Invest in monthly dividend stocks for recurring income
Monthly dividend stocks make it easy for investors to earn passive income. They can use that money to cover their monthly expenses or reinvest their dividends and set themselves up to generate even more recurring cash flow in the future when they need it.
While dozens of companies pay monthly dividends, these stocks stand out as either safer, more stable dividend stocks or, in a few cases, riskier -- but potentially more rewarding -- investments in their potential to turn things around.
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