2 Dividend Stocks to Double Up on Right Now

The S&P 500 is close to its record peak, and a number of highly sought-after stocks in the market have been doing exceptionally well lately. Yet, certain categories of dividend stocks, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs), remain quite appealing.

Even some of the industry-leading REITs are trading well below their highs at cheap valuations and with dividend yields that are historically rare. In this article, I’ll discuss two in particular — both of which I own — that are worth a closer look for patient income investors right now.

Built for steady compounding

Back in the day, I initially invested in Realty Income, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), marking my first foray into this investment sector. Over the years, I’ve continued to grow my stake in it. As of now, it appears that this could be an opportune moment to make a purchase.

Realty Income operates with a focus on continuous growth through compounding. It manages over 15,500 properties across the U.S. and Europe, many of which are leased to tenants who are less affected by economic downturns or e-commerce trends. To put it simply, imagine businesses like grocery stores, convenience stores, and fast-casual restaurants – these are just a few instances.

The tenants are reliable regardless of economic conditions, and they even agree to long-term leases that obligate them to pay taxes, insurance premiums, and the majority of maintenance expenses. What Realty Income effectively does is acquire a property with an exceptional tenant already in place, ensuring steady and progressively increasing income over extended periods.

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Currently, Realty Income’s stock price offers a dividend return of 5.6%, which is relatively high compared to other investments. It also sells for approximately 13.4 times the anticipated 2025 Funds From Operations (FFO), similar to what companies report as earnings. This suggests a cost-effective opportunity to invest in a stock that has consistently outperformed the market in terms of total returns over a long period.

A logistics giant

Prologis, known as PLD, is among the biggest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) globally. However, it has fallen behind the broader real estate market in recent times. This industrial property titan manages about 1.3 billion square feet of leasable space spread across four continents. In summary, the current climate in the industrial real estate sector hasn’t been particularly advantageous.

1. Firstly, during the pandemic years when e-commerce saw a significant increase and logistical needs escalated, this particular type of property was built excessively.

2. Secondly, with higher interest rates prevailing, it has become less enticing to secure capital for growth.

3. Lastly, the ongoing surge in interest rates has put a strain on the value of all commercial real estate, and Prologis is feeling that pressure as well.

Latest findings indicate a robust performance, hinting that Prologis might be on the verge of experiencing a significant shift. The Core FFO (Funds From Operations) rose by 9% year-on-year in the second quarter, and after a series of quarters showing a decrease, Prologis’ property occupancy remained steady compared to the previous sequential period.

The portfolio continues to exhibit significant internal rent increases, with new and renewed leases seeing a 35% rise in cash rent. Moreover, management indicates that tenants are actively preparing, discussing, and growing more eager to expand their space usage. If, as many experts suggest, we experience a period of decreasing interest rates over the next few years, this could generate a powerful boost for the industrial real estate sector.

A great long-term entry point

To make things crystal clear, I’m the owner of all three due to my belief in their ability to deliver substantial long-term returns, not because I expect them to skyrocket within a short timeframe like weeks or months. These Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) can be somewhat erratic in the short term, but they’ve consistently demonstrated sound capital allocation strategies that should benefit investors over the long haul.

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2025-07-23 16:00