If your goal for 2026 is dependable monthly cash without constantly trading, there’s a straightforward income strategy using high-yield, relatively stable dividend stocks that pay monthly. With a targeted investment of about $41,500, you can receive roughly $252 per month in dividends right away, assuming current yields hold. This isn’t guesswork — it’s based on two real estate investment trusts (REITs) that have historically delivered steady rental-based distributions.

Why Choose Monthly Payers?
Most dividend stocks distribute quarterly, but REITs are structured to return almost all rental income to investors, often monthly. That means smoother cash flow for individuals relying on recurring income. By reinvesting dividends when you don’t need them for expenses, you can snowball future payouts.

Two REITs That Deliver Monthly Income

SmartCentres REIT
SmartCentres is a Canadian REIT focused on grocery-anchored retail plazas and mixed-use developments. A large percentage of its rent comes from recession-resilient tenants like Walmart, giving its cash flow defensive qualities even in economic slowdowns. The REIT has a long history of dividend payments and has navigated past downturns without cutting distributions by prioritizing current cash flow. Its yield is around 7 percent, meaning a $10,000 equivalent investment would generate about $700 annually in dividends.
Slate Grocery REIT
Slate Grocery operates a portfolio of U.S. grocery-anchored properties with broad tenant diversity — no single tenant accounts for more than 10 percent of income. Its consistent rent stream underpins its monthly payouts, which currently yield roughly 7.6 percent. Because dividends are paid in U.S. dollars, Canadian investors face exchange-rate variability, but the underlying income remains stable.

How the Math Works
If you were to purchase 1,000 units of each REIT at recent prices — about $26,110 in SmartCentres units and roughly $15,420 in Slate Grocery units — your combined cost would be about $41,530 and annual dividends of approximately $3,030. Broken down monthly, that’s roughly $252 in recurring income.

Also Read: Long term investing in Canada

Income Growth Over Time
You don’t need the full $41,500 upfront to build this cash stream. By steadily adding to positions and reinvesting payouts, you can increase future monthly income without feeling pressured to time the market. Each dividend payment can purchase additional units, which then produce even more income.

Also Read: Best long term Canadian stocks

While these REITs pay high yields and have resilient fundamentals, no investment is risk-free. REITs can be sensitive to interest-rate changes, property-market cycles, and tenant-specific challenges. Assess fundamentals regularly and maintain diversification to avoid undue risk concentration.