3 Big Dividend Companies to Put on Your Radar Today

Investors seeking income have turned to stocks, and there are three companies that each sport dividends of more than 5% which pique the interest of many.

Realty Income distinctly calls itself "the monthly dividend company," and recently reported strong earnings growth where its adjusted per-share funds from operations were up 17% on the year. New York Community Bancorp has been one of the safest and most reliable banks on the planet, and has delivered an astounding total return of more than 4,000% since it went public in 1993. And while American Capital Agency has watched its stock fall by more than 30% over the last year, its 12% dividend still has many people considering an investment in it.

In the video below, The Motley Fool explores which of these three big dividend payers should be on investor's radar. While two of them are great considerations, it turns out one stands out above the others.

Nine more great dividend options
Certainly one of these three is a great option, but the thing is, one of the dirty secrets that few finance professionals will openly admit is the fact that dividend stocks as a group handily outperform their non-dividend paying counterparts. The reasons for this are too numerous to list here, but you can rest assured that it's true.

However, knowing this is only half the battle. The other half is identifying which dividend stocks in particular are the best. With this in mind, our top analysts put together a free list of nine high-yielding stocks that should be in every income investor's portfolio. To learn the identity of these stocks instantly and for free, all you have to do is click here now.

Editor's note: In the above video, Patrick states New York Community Bancorp "buys" properties. He meant "provides properties loans."

The article 3 Big Dividend Companies to Put on Your Radar Today originally appeared on Fool.com.

Patrick Morris has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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