Microsoft In our opinion, no list of dividend stocks is complete without Microsoft (MSFT). Almost every investor knows about Microsoft. The company’s signature products and services include Windows, MS Office, Xbox, LinkedIn, Bing, Outlook, Azure, and more. Almost every adult directly or indirectly uses one or more of these products.
Realty Income Corporation Realty Income Corporation (O) is the only real estate investment trust (REIT) on this list. The trust owns more than 6,500 commercial properties. Additionally, Realty Income’s retail properties are not part of larger retail developments, like malls or town centers, but standalone properties. This fact means that many different tenants can utilize the properties, including government services, healthcare services, and entertainment.
Consolidated Edison For our last stock on this list of five stocks, we include a utility for diversification. Consolidated Edison (ED) is one of the oldest regulated utilities. The company is also a well-known dividend stock that has paid a dividend since 1885. Consolidated Edison provides electricity, gas, and steam in New York City, southern New York, and northern New Jersey. The utility has approximately 3.5 million electricity customers and 1.1 million gas customers.