Lock In Monthly Income: 5 September Strong Buys With High Yields

Lock In Monthly Income: 5 September Strong Buys With High Yields

Lee Jackson

Mon, August 31, 2026 at 3:40 PM GMT+3 8 min read

Quick Read

• Rising interest rates have pushed shares of ADC and O lower, creating entry points with monthly dividends yielding 4.29% and 5.15% respectively.

• Asset managers built the largest Nasdaq futures short position in history, signaling institutional caution and supporting a defensive pivot to monthly income stocks.

• MAIN is considered the gold standard BDC, offering a 5.27% monthly yield backed by conservative senior secured lending to lower-middle-market companies.

• Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Realty Income didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

September is historically the weakest month of the year for U.S. stocks, and this year investors face a stock market that has climbed steadily since the AI/data center trade took off in November 2022 with the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT, which became the fastest-growing software application, garnering over a million users in just five days.

Recently, asset managers and hedge funds reportedly built the largest Nasdaq futures short position in history. They didn't build that because they think stocks are going higher. That's why safe monthly-pay dividend stocks could be a smart pivot for investors now. With interest rates trending higher over the summer, these companies' shares have traded lower, now offering attractive yields and compelling entry points.

Most stocks pay quarterly dividends, which works well for many shareholders who reinvest them. However, many investors rely on dividends as part of a passive income stream, and monthly payouts can be more beneficial. Typically, real estate investment trusts (REITs), business development companies (BDCs), and closed-end funds are among the investment vehicles that pay monthly distributions. However, other great companies pay monthly, so we screened our monthly-pay database for the five safest stocks, since September has proven to be the worst month of the year for stocks. All five are rated Buy by top Wall Street firms.

Why Do We Recommend Monthly Dividend Stocks?

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Realty Income didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

A monthly check from your stock portfolio makes sense for most people with bills and expenses due every 30 days, especially in a world where prices are consistently rising. Items such as mortgage payments, rent, utility bills, cell phone and internet bills, trash collection, and even grocery bills are always due each month. A steady stream of passive monthly income can greatly help you meet these obligations.

Agree Realty

Agree Realty (NYSE:ADC) is an $8 billion+ industry leader in acquiring and developing properties net-leased to retailers. This mid-cap stock offers a reliable 4.29% dividend and strong upside potential. Agree Realty is a publicly traded REIT that acquires and develops properties net-leased to industry-leading, omnichannel retail tenants. The company has a strong BBB+ retail REIT balance sheet, which helps protect its monthly distribution from shifting interest rate cycles.

The company's assets are held by, and all its operations are conducted directly or indirectly through, the operating partnership of which the company is the sole general partner.

Its portfolio comprises 2,674 properties in 50 states, totaling approximately 48.8 million square feet of gross leasable area (GLA). The company's portfolio of properties is located in:

• Texas

• Ohio

• Florida

• Michigan

• Illinois

• North Carolina

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

• California

• New York

• Georgia

• Virginia

• Connecticut

• Wisconsin

Agree Realty tenants include these companies and more:

• Walmart

• Dollar General

• Tractor Supply

• Best Buy

• Dollar Tree

• TJX Companies

• O'Reilly Auto Parts

• CVS

• Kroger

• Lowe's

• Hobby Lobby

• Burlington

• Sherwin-Williams

• Sunbelt Rentals

• Wawa

• Home Depot

• TBC

• Gerber Collision

Jefferies has a Buy rating with an $84 target price.

EPR Properties

This REIT invests in some of the most popular entertainment companies. EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) is a leading experiential net-lease REIT specializing in select enduring experiential properties and pays a 6.04% dividend. EPR recently increased its monthly dividend by 5.1% and expects funds from operations (FFO) per share growth of more than 5% in 2026, supporting continued dividend increases. After suspending its dividend during COVID-19, it has recovered with five consecutive years of increases. Its $6.9 billion property portfolio generates solid cash flow, and the monthly dividend of $0.31/share is well-covered by funds from operations.

The company operates through two segments. The Experiential segment consists of approximately:

• 157 theater properties

• 58 eat and play properties

• 24 attraction properties

• 11 ski properties

• Four experiential lodging properties

• One gaming property

• One cultural property

• 22 fitness and wellness properties

The company's Education segment comprises 59 early childhood education centers and nine private schools.

EPR Properties' investment portfolio includes ownership of and long-term mortgages on experiential and educational properties. The company has investments in approximately 44 states. All the company's owned single-tenant properties are leased on long-term, triple-net terms.

KeyBanc has an Overweight rating with a $70 target price.

LTC Properties

This healthcare REIT specializes in seniors housing and skilled nursing facilities, offering exposure to the growing healthcare real estate sector with a monthly dividend yield of 5.60%. LTC Properties (NYSE:LTC) invests in senior housing and healthcare properties through sale-leasebacks, mortgage financing, joint ventures, construction financing, and structured finance solutions, including preferred equity and mezzanine lending. The company invests in senior housing and skilled nursing properties secured by triple-net leases, mortgage loans, and other cash-generating structures, giving it relatively steady income to support its monthly dividend.

LTC Properties operates a diversified portfolio of more than 200 senior care assets, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and memory care centers. The company prioritizes acquisitions with durable cash flow profiles. It has delivered consistent monthly dividend payments across varied market conditions—a compelling combination given structural demand growth driven by an aging U.S. population.

LTC focuses on senior housing and long-term care facilities, benefiting from the aging U.S. population. Its sale-and-leaseback model generates stable cash flow without landlord responsibilities. As a REIT, it must distribute 90% of taxable income, ensuring reliable dividends. It has a smaller market cap of $1.6 billion, but it still supports consistent payouts.

It invests in various properties, including:

• Skilled nursing centers, which provide restorative, rehabilitative, and nursing care

• Assisted living facilities that serve people who require assistance with activities of daily living

• Independent living facilities, also known as retirement communities or senior apartments, offer a community and numerous levels of service, such as laundry, housekeeping, dining options/meal plans, exercise and wellness programs, transportation, social, cultural, and recreational activities, on-site security, and others

• Memory care facilities offer specialized options for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia

Deutsche Bank has a Buy rating with a $55 target.

Main Street Capital

Main Street Capital (NASDAQ:MAIN) has helped over 200 private companies grow or transition by providing flexible private equity and debt capital solutions. This BDC offers a substantial 5.27% monthly dividend, a strong history of monthly dividends, and relatively conservative lending practices. Analysts widely regard the company as the gold standard of BDCs.

The firm provides debt capital to middle-market companies. It invests heavily in senior secured debt, securing lower-risk structural priority on equity assets and minimizing potential default losses:

• Acquisitions

• Management buyouts

• Growth financings

• Recapitalizations

• Refinancing

The firm partners with entrepreneurs, business owners, and management teams and generally provides "one-stop" financing options within its lower-middle-market portfolio. Main Street Capital typically invests in lower-middle-market companies with annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million. The firm's middle-market debt investments are in businesses generally larger than its lower-middle-market portfolio companies. It also makes majority and minority equity investments.

Royal Bank of Canada has an Outperform rating and a $58 target price.

Realty Income

Realty Income (NYSE:O) is a REIT that has paid monthly dividends consistently for over 55 years. It owns over 15,000 properties leased primarily to defensive retailers. This is an ideal stock for growth and income investors seeking a safer, contrarian idea for the rest of 2026, offering a 5.15% dividend yield. This S&P 500 company acquires and manages freestanding commercial properties that generate rental revenue under long-term net lease agreements with its commercial clients. Realty Income stands out as its long-term net-lease structure provides predictable rental income, and the company has increased its dividend more than 120 times since going public.

It is engaged in a single business activity: leasing property to clients, generally on a net basis. This business activity spans various geographies and encompasses a range of property types and client industries.

The company owns or holds interests in approximately 15,621 properties in all 50 states and:

• United Kingdom

• France

• Germany

• Ireland

• Italy

• Portugal

• Spain

With clients operating in 89 industries, its property types include retail, industrial, gaming, and other categories such as agriculture and office. Its primary industry concentrations include:

• Grocery stores

• Convenience stores

• Dollar stores

• Drug stores

• Home improvement stores

• Restaurants

• Quick service

Jefferies has a Buy rating with a $71 target price.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Realty Income didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact editorial@247wallst.com for any questions or corrections.