Realty Income (O) will raise its monthly dividend by 2.0 percent to $0.2255 per share in the first quarter of 2019. The REIT has now raised its dividend for 25 consecutive years.

The increased dividend is payable on February 15, 2019 to shareholders of record as of February 1, 2019. This is the 100th dividend increase since Realty Income's listing on the NYSE in 1994. The ex-dividend date for February's dividend is January 31, 2019. The new monthly dividend represents an annualized dividend amount of $2.706 per share as compared to the current annualized dividend amount of $2.652 per share.

"The continued strength of our operating performance has allowed us to increase the dividend for the 100th time since our company's public listing in 1994," said Sumit Roy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Realty Income. "We continue to maintain a conservative payout ratio and remain committed to our company's mission of paying dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. With the payment of the February dividend, shareholders will realize a 3% increase in the amount of the dividend as compared to the same month in 2018."

Realty Income Corporation is a real estate investment trust (REIT) with properties owned under long-term lease agreements with regional and national commercial tenants. The Company has tenants active in 48 segments, including Apparel, Automotive tire services, Beverages, Child care, Convenience stores, Dollar stores, Drug stores, Financial services, Food processing, Grocery stores, Health and fitness, Health care, Home improvement, Restaurants-casual dining, Restaurants-quick service, Sporting goods, Theaters, Transportation services and Wholesale club. Realty Income listed on the NYSE in 1994.