I Get Paid By 3 Different Dividend Stocks Every Single Month. Here's Who's on My List.

I'm building additional passive income streams to supplement my paycheck. Every month, I receive dividend payments from Realty Income (NYSE:O), Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN), and EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR). It's like getting another paycheck each month, except I didn't have to do any work for the money.

I like investing in these monthly dividend stocks because the recurring cash flow gives me a set amount to reinvest each month until I retire, when it will then help cover some of my living expenses. That beats the lumpier quarterly cadence of most other dividend stocks. Here's a look at why I chose this particular trio of monthly dividend payers.

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The Monthly Dividend Company®

Realty Income is the gold standard among monthly dividend stocks. The real estate investment trust (REIT) has declared 674 consecutive monthly dividends. It has raised its payment for 115 consecutive quarters and 135 times since its 1994 listing on the NYSE. The REIT has increased its payment annually for more than three decades, growing it at a 4.1% compound annual rate. It's as consistent an income stock as they come.

The REIT currently has a dividend yield of more than 5% (well above the S&P 500's 1% yield), which is on rock-solid ground. Realty Income has a well-diversified portfolio of properties (retail, industrial, gaming, and data centers) secured by long-term net leases with many of the world's leading companies. Those leases provide it with very stable and durable rental income. Meanwhile, Realty Income has a conservative dividend payout ratio (less than 75% of its adjusted funds from operations) and a fortress balance sheet (A-rated). That strong financial profile, along with a growing list of strategic partners, gives it the funding capacity to invest billions of dollars into income-generating real estate each year to support its steadily rising dividend.

A sustainable monthly income stream and more

Main Street Capital is a business development company (BDC) that invests in small private companies. It makes debt and equity investments that provide it with interest and dividend income, as well as capital appreciation potential.

As a BDC, Main Street Capital must distribute at least 90% of its taxable net income to shareholders in dividends. It primarily does that through its monthly dividend, which it set at a sustainable level (its distributable net investment income covered its monthly payment by nearly 1.4 times in the second quarter). Main Street Capital has never cut or suspended its monthly dividend since its 2007 IPO. Instead, it has grown the payout by 141% since its IPO, including 12 times since 2021, and by 3.9% over the last 12 months. At its recent stock price and monthly rate, Main Street's base yield is more than 5%.

Additionally, Main Street periodically pays supplemental quarterly dividends to ensure compliance with IRS regulations. It has paid a supplemental dividend for 20 straight quarters and maintained its current rate of $0.30 per share since early 2024. This additional payment currently boosts its annualized dividend yield to over 7%.

The income thriller

EPR Properties is another REIT. It focuses on owning experiential real estate, such as movie theaters, eat-and-play venues, amusement parks, and other attractions. It leases these properties to operating tenants under long-term, primarily triple-net leases.

The REIT has taken income investors on a roller coaster ride over the past several years. It suspended its dividend during the pandemic due to its impact on the theater industry and reinstated it at a lower rate. While the REIT has been steadily increasing its monthly dividend over the past five years, it remains below the pre-pandemic rate. That's allowing it to retain additional income to fund new investments.

EPR Properties has spent the past several years enhancing its portfolio by selling off theaters and investing in other experiential properties. For example, it bought seven regional theme parks from Six Flags for $315 million this year and leased them to two new tenants. It also spent $113 million late last year on a five-property golf-course portfolio and a water park. These investments are growing its earnings, enabling EPR to raise its dividend (5.1% increase in early 2026). While EPR Properties has a higher risk profile, it also offers a higher current yield at almost 6%.

A three-part monthly paycheck

I own Realty Income, Main Street Capital, and EPR Properties largely because they pay above-average monthly dividends, which gives me a bankable stream of recurring income to reinvest each month. Realty Income is my income anchor due to its exceptional track record, financial strength, and durability. Main Street Capital also provides a bankable monthly income stream and gives me a little extra cash each quarter. Finally, EPR Properties provides a bit of an income boost thanks to its higher yield, which I think is worth the higher risk since it's part of the income strategy, not the foundation. All three work together to support my investment income goals.

Matt DiLallo has positions in EPR Properties, Main Street Capital, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends EPR Properties and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Six Flags Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.