The end of the year is a time of reflection and an opportunity to look forward. It’s only natural that investors are already thinking about the best stocks to buy over the next year. Ideally, investors should try to identify stocks that generate winning investments over the long term.
But when Buying a stock can affect returns, so considering the here and now also makes sense. One factor some investors may consider is an investment’s resistance to different economic conditions. Finding a stock that can weather the storm of a recession could be attractive to those who fear there could be a slowdown next year.
Let’s take a look at a company that has positioned itself well for any potential macroeconomic outcome and see if now is the time to buy.
Real estate income (NYSE: O) pays its dividend every month. While this isn’t all that unique, it’s something the company takes very seriously. It has increased its dividend every year for the last 30 years. Paying this ever-growing dividend is important enough that Realty Income calls itself “The Monthly Dividend Company.”
Leaving aside the company’s priority over its dividend, Realty Income also has to pay out at least 90% of its earnings as a dividend because it is what’s called a real estate investment trust (REIT). This ranking further solidifies the reliability of dividend payments to shareholders. The stock currently has a dividend yield of 5.9%, easily beating the S&P 500The yield of 1.3%
Realty Income’s business is owning real estate and leasing it to clients doing business in 90 different industries. Most of these leases are triple net leases, meaning customers, not Realty Income, take responsibility for things like taxes, insurance and maintenance.
Realty Income’s strategy of leasing to so many different industries provides diversification to its real estate portfolio. If one sector of the economy suffers a slowdown, it won’t have a huge impact on the REIT because that sector would only represent a small percentage of its portfolio.
The company allocates 73% of its portfolio to businesses such as non-discretionary, low-priced and service-oriented retailers. Think groceries, convenience stores, pharmacies, etc. In short, even when things get tough financially, Realty Income clients must be resilient. In fact, the company classifies approximately 90% of its real estate portfolio as “resistant to economic shocks and/or insulated from economic pressures.”