Realty Income Corporation (O) engages in the acquisition and ownership of commercial retail real estate properties in the United States. The company leases its retail properties primarily to regional and national retail chain store operators. Realty Income is widely known among its investors as the monthly dividend company. The company is a dividend achiever, which has increased its dividend for 15 years in a row by raising its monthly distributions several times per year. The company is one my best dividend stocks for 2010 list.

Over the past decade the stock has delivered a total return of 18% per annum to its shareholders.

Realty Income owned 2348 retail properties at the end of 2008. The company’s properties which are leased by 119 retail chains in 30 industries are located in 49 states. Most new properties acquired are under long term leases (15-20 years) with tenants from a variety of industries and geographic location. The average remaining lease life was 11.9 years in 2008. Tenants are typically responsible for monthly rent and property operating expenses including property taxes, insurance and maintenance. In addition, occupants are also responsible for future rent increases based on increases in the consumer price index, fixed increases or, to a lesser degree, additional rent calculated as a percentage of the tenants’ gross sales above a specified level. Due to the stability of company's revenue streams and above average yield, the company might be a good pick for investors who are seeking current retirement income.