Passive Income Dreams & Dividend Stocks

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Right. So, the plan. Everyone talks about “passive income.” It sounds… blissful. Like money magically appearing while you’re, you know, doing something vaguely worthwhile. The reality, of course, is research, spreadsheets, and a constant low-level anxiety about market fluctuations. Still. One must try. I’ve been looking into dividend stocks. Apparently, they’re the closest thing we mere mortals get to financial autopilot. Units of research completed: 7. Number of times I’ve considered just buying a lottery ticket: 14. But no. Discipline. That’s the word. I’m aiming for a steady income stream, not a fleeting moment of unrealistic hope.

The idea is to find companies that reliably pay out a portion of their profits. Not glamorous, admittedly. But apparently, it works. I’ve narrowed it down to four. They all yield over 4% – which, compared to the S&P 500’s paltry 1.2%, feels… substantial. Like maybe, just maybe, I won’t have to eat instant noodles for the rest of my life. Though, let’s be realistic, instant noodles are surprisingly versatile.

Clearway Energy

Clearway Energy. Sounds… responsible. They generate clean power. Wind farms, solar panels, the sort of thing that makes you feel slightly less guilty about your carbon footprint. They have these long-term contracts with utilities, which means a fairly predictable income. Which is good. Predictability is severely underrated. They’re aiming to reinvest about 30% of their cash flow, which is sensible. It’s like… saving for a rainy day, but with slightly more financial jargon. They expect a 7-8% annual growth rate through 2030, which, if true, would be rather nice. I’ve made a note to check their quarterly reports. And maybe learn what a “compound annual rate” actually means.

Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer. A bit more… robust sounding. Pipelines, processing plants, that sort of thing. It’s a Master Limited Partnership, which means… well, it means I had to Google it. Apparently, it involves a slightly complicated tax form (a Schedule K-1, for the record). But the yield is a rather impressive 7.1%. They retain nearly half their cash flow, which feels… cautious. Like a squirrel burying nuts for the winter. They’re investing billions in expansion projects, primarily natural gas pipelines. I’m slightly conflicted about natural gas, environmentally speaking. But the numbers are… compelling. I’ve added “research sustainable energy alternatives” to my to-do list. It’s a very long list.

Realty Income

Realty Income. They own… everything, apparently. Retail, industrial, gaming, data centers. They lease it all out. It’s incredibly diversified, which, logically, is a good thing. Like not putting all your eggs in one basket. Although, I do have a rather nice egg basket. They have these “net leases,” which means the tenants pay all the operating costs. It’s beautifully simple. They also have a ridiculously strong balance sheet, which, according to my (limited) understanding, is a very good thing. They’ve been consistently raising their dividend for over three decades. 113 quarters in a row! It’s almost… intimidating. I’ve made a note to avoid making any rash investment decisions.

Verizon

Verizon. Everyone knows Verizon. Mobile phones, internet. They get recurring revenue from monthly bills. It’s a surprisingly reliable business model. They’re generating a 5.8% yield. They expect $21.5 billion in free cash flow this year, which is… a lot of money. They’ve recently acquired Frontier, expanding their fiber network. It sounds… complicated. But also potentially lucrative. They’re using some of the cash to pay down debt, which is responsible. They’ve been increasing their dividend for 19 years in a row. It’s a bit like watching a slow-motion train of financial stability. And frankly, I could use some of that.

The Bottom Line (Or, My Slightly Panicked Thoughts)

So, there you have it. Clearway Energy, Energy Transfer, Realty Income, and Verizon. They all pay high yields, and they all seem reasonably stable. Of course, nothing is ever guaranteed. The market could crash. A rogue asteroid could hit the Earth. My cat could accidentally delete my investment portfolio. But, you know, one must try. I’m not expecting to retire to a tropical island anytime soon. But a slightly less stressful financial future? That would be nice. Number of times I’ve checked my portfolio today: 17. Number of deep breaths taken: countless.

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2026-02-22 17:32