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Vici Properties (VICI +1.02%) is one of my favorite dividend stocks, and I've owned it for more than six years. To say that its stock price hasn't performed well would be an understatement, and thanks to a recent decline, shares now yield about 7.7% annually, close to the highest level in its history.

Despite the poor stock price performance, I'm still a big fan of Vici from a long-term perspective. Here's why I've added to my position several times recently, and why I'm likely to continue doing so while the high yield remains.

Image source: Getty Images.

Vici Properties and its dividendIf you aren't familiar with the company, Vici is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, that owns 103 properties, most of which are occupied by gaming businesses. It owns the real estate for some of the most famous casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, including Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, and The Venetian. Tenants lease the properties under long-term agreements, up to 50 years, with rent increases tied to inflation. In short, the business is designed to generate predictable, growing income from its properties.

VICI Vici Properties$23.34+$0.24 (+1.02%)

NYSE · As of 3:44 PM ET 10/20/26

Vici spun off from Caesars Entertainment in 2017 and has increased its dividend for eight consecutive years. And while a 7.7% yield might sound high, Vici only expects to pay about 75% of its funds from operations (FFO) as dividends this year, a very comfortable payout level for a REIT. Not only is the dividend well covered by the company's income, but the built-in rent increases in its leases should allow it to maintain its dividend growth streak.

Why is the stock down?To be clear, Vici's business is performing quite well. Its casino tenants are paying rent, and there's no reason to believe any of them are struggling, or will be anytime soon. Vici's rent keeps rising every year, the dividend keeps growing, and the company has done a great job of finding creative ways to invest its capital, even in a difficult growth environment for real estate businesses.

The biggest reason for the stock's performance is interest rates. With the 10-year Treasury yield over 5%, income investors have more alternatives, and rising rates also make it more expensive for REITs to borrow for growth.

The bottom line is that none of the reasons why Vici is down changes my long-term thesis. A lower stock price allows me to lock in a higher yield on cost for every share I add. At the current price, a $10,000 investment yields about $770 in annual dividends, and this income should grow over time. As long as Vici's yield is high simply because its stock price has fallen despite strong business performance, I'm happy to keep adding shares and building an income stream.

At 73, the IRS forces your hand on withdrawals, but one retiree found a way to make the account pay for itself using just three tickers spanning an ETF, a casino REIT, and a lending giant.

SummaryVICI has crashed despite higher cash flows and a new dividend hike.The market is pricing in the Caesars risk and higher rates.A recovery to $40 by 2030 may not be that far fetched.High Yield Landlord members get exclusive access to our real-world portfolio. See all our investments here » MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images

I last covered VICI Properties (VICI) in an article about a month ago explaining why I think that its recent crash is a buying opportunity.

Today, I want to go a step further and outline the math and reasoning why I

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of VICI; NNN; WPC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

VICI Properties Inc. (VICI - Free Report) closed at $23.46 in the latest trading session, marking a +2.27% move from the prior day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.33%. At the same time, the Dow added 1.08%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.08%.

The company's stock has dropped by 6.48% in the past month, falling short of the Finance sector's loss of 3.99% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.41%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of VICI Properties Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on October 28, 2026. On that day, VICI Properties Inc. is projected to report earnings of $0.62 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 3.33%. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $1.06 billion, indicating a 5.67% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.47 per share and a revenue of $4.22 billion, representing changes of +3.78% and +5.26%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for VICI Properties Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.07% higher within the past month. Currently, VICI Properties Inc. is carrying a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that VICI Properties Inc. has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.3 right now. This denotes a discount relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 11.44.

The REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is part of the Finance sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 85, positioning it in the top 35% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow VICI in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of DMLP, VICI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Beyond Saving, Philip Mause, and Hidden Opportunities, all are supporting contributors for High Dividend Opportunities. Any recommendation posted in this article is not indefinite. We closely monitor all of our positions. We issue Buy and Sell alerts on our recommendations, which are exclusive to our members.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

The broader equity markets witnessed an erratic pattern over the past few trading days – rising sharply on an AI-infused rally early this week and declining mid-week on surging Treasury yields and oil prices. While the 10-year Treasury note yield surged to the highest levels since 2002, the 30-year Treasury bond yield traded near 24-year highs, driving stocks lower. Crude oil prices soared as Iran rhetoric continued, with President Trump threatening massive bombings and declining to sign any truce agreement to end the war.

  Stable economic growth and solid labor market conditions have led to broad-based concerns that the Fed might resort to further rate hikes to tame inflationary pressures. Nevertheless, interest rates are likely to remain unchanged at the next Federal Reserve meeting later this month. As investors employ a wait-and-see approach in a classic example of “backing and filling” in the market, they can benefit from “cash cow” stocks that garner higher returns. However, identifying cash-rich stocks alone does not make for a solid investment proposition unless it is backed by attractive efficiency ratios, such as return on equity (ROE). A high ROE ensures that the company is reinvesting cash at a high rate of return. Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) , Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA - Free Report) , Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST - Free Report) , VICI Properties Inc. (VICI - Free Report) and PACCAR Inc (PCAR - Free Report) are some of the stocks with high ROE to profit from.

In order to shortlist stocks that are cash-rich with high ROE, we have added Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE greater than X-Industry as our primary screening parameters. In addition, we have taken a few other criteria into consideration to arrive at a winning strategy.

Price/Cash Flow less than X-Industry: This metric measures how much investors pay for $1 of free cash flow. A lower ratio indicates that investors need to pay less for a better cash flow-generating stock.

Return on Assets (ROA) greater than X-Industry: This metric determines how much profit a company earns for every dollar of assets, which includes cash, accounts receivable, property, equipment, inventory and furniture. The higher the ROA, the better it is for the company.

5-Year EPS Historical Growth greater than X-Industry: This criterion indicates that continued earnings momentum has translated into solid cash strength.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.

Here are five of the 15 stocks that qualified the screening:

Micron: Headquartered in Idaho, Micron is one of the leading providers of semiconductor memory solutions. It manufactures and markets high-performance memory and storage technologies, including Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, NOR Flash and other technologies. Its solutions are used in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, mobile, automotive, industrial and data center products.

The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 32.6%. It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21%, on average. It has a VGM Score of A. Micron sports a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Banco Bilbao: Headquartered in Bilbao, Spain, Banco Bilbao provides retail banking, wholesale banking and asset management services primarily in Spain, Mexico, Turkey, the Rest of Europe, South America, the United States and Asia.

The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 15.7%. It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.5%, on average. It has a VGM Score of A. Banco Bilbao sports a Zacks Rank #1.

  Ross: Based in Dublin, CA, Ross is an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories, offering in-season, branded and designer apparel, footwear, accessories and other home-related merchandise. Operating primarily in the United States, it targets middle-income households, keeping prices generally 20% to 60% below the regular prices of most department and specialty stores.

The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.6%, It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.2%, on average. It has a VGM Score of B. Ross carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

  VICI: New York-based VICI is an experiential real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and acquires gaming, hospitality, wellness, entertainment and leisure destinations. The company is a Maryland corporation and an internally managed REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

VICI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.4%, on average. VICI carries a Zacks Rank #2.

 PACCAR: Headquartered in Bellevue, WA, PACCAR is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in the world and has substantial manufacturing exposure to light/medium trucks. It also designs and manufactures diesel engines and other powertrain components for use in its products and sale to third-party manufacturers of trucks and buses. In addition to supplying aftermarket parts, PACCAR offers finance and leasing services.

The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.8% and delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.3%, on average. PACCAR carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The amount of capital a 66-year-old actually needs to retire on $6,550 a month swings by more than a million dollars depending on one decision most retirees make without fully understanding the tradeoff.

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A 66-year-old who wants $6,550 a month from a portfolio needs about $78,600 a year in investment income. For many retirees, this number will cover the gap between Social Security and actual spending. However, how much capital it takes depends mostly on the yield you accept.

Each scenario below uses one equation: annual income divided by yield equals required capital. Fund yields are current distribution rates, based on recent payouts and share prices.

What $6,550 a Month Costs at Three Yield Levels Conservative Tier: 3% to 4% Yield Needs About $2.2 Million At the most conservative level, $78,600 divided by 0.035 equals about $2.2 million. This tier includes broad dividend-growth funds, blue-chip dividend payers, and Treasury bills. The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEARCA:VYM) yields about 2.2% on its forward distribution. At that rate, a portfolio made up only of this fund would need roughly $3.57 million.

Helping make up this portfolio is the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SGOV), which yields about 3.6%, and its share price barely moves. Its payout depends on Fed policy. In late 2021, monthly distributions were below $0.005 per share.

This tier requires the most capital, and in return, income grows. VYM’s annual distributions rose about 67% from 2016 through the latest 12 months, and its adjusted share price climbed 198% over ten years.

Covered Calls and REITs Cut the Target to About $1.3 Million at 5% to 7% Another option is to take $78,600 and divide it by 0.06, which equals $1,310,000. This range covers covered call funds, preferred shares, REITs, and high-dividend equity funds. On trailing payouts, the Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSEARCA:DIVO) yields 6.4%. That figure includes a $0.95 payout in December. Its regular monthly pace works out to closer to 4.8%.

VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI) yields about 8.1%. It raised its quarterly dividend to $0.46 from $0.33 in 2021, supported by 100% occupancy and 2% annual rent escalators. The stock still fell 24% over the past year as the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 5%.

In this tier, dividend growth slows, covered calls limit upside, and income can fall behind inflation over a 25-year retirement.

Aggressive Tier: 8% to 14% Yield Needs About $786,000 At the most aggressive investment level, $78,600 divided by 0.10 equals $786,000. This range includes leveraged covered call funds, business development companies, mortgage REITs, and high-yield bond funds. The JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:JEPQ) yields about 11.1%. Its monthly payouts over the past year ranged from $0.45 to $0.70.

Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC | ARCC Price Prediction) yields about 10.4% and has paid $0.48 per quarter since March 2023. Its net asset value per share slipped to $19.35 from $19.94 at the end of 2025, and non-accruals (loans that have stopped paying interest) rose to 2%. Distributions in this tier can be cut, and principal can shrink while the checks keep arriving.

A Blended Portfolio Lands Near $1.4 Million One mix puts 25% in VYM, 20% in DIVO, 15% each in VICI, JEPQ, and SGOV, and 10% in ARCC. That yields about 5.6%, or if you divide $78,600 by 0.056, you get roughly $1.4 million. Monthly payers like DIVO, JEPQ, and SGOV help cover the gaps between the quarterly payers.

Why the Lowest Yield Can Win by Your Mid-70s Take a 3.5% yield whose payout grows 8% a year. Starting at $78,600, it pays about $157,000 in year nine, when you turn 75. A 10% yield with a flat payout still delivers $78,600 that year, but inflation has eaten into it each year. ARCC’s dividend has held at the same level for more than three years.

Steps to Take Before Choosing a Tier Subtract your expected Social Security benefit from your actual annual spending. If the gap is smaller than $78,600, every capital figure above drops proportionally. Model the tax drag. REIT and BDC dividends are mostly taxed as ordinary income, while broad dividend ETFs pay mostly qualified dividends. Holding VICI and ARCC in an IRA can raise your after-tax income at the same yield. Compare ten-year total returns alongside current yield. ARCC’s adjusted share price rose 206% over the past decade, compared with 198% for VYM. Check whether each holding’s income grew fast enough to keep up with your costs. Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Soaring Treasury yields have battered utility, real estate, and telecom stocks into multi-year lows, but five Wall Street favorites now sit at entry points that income investors rarely see. The question is whether this selloff is a value trap or…

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Treasury debt yields have risen to their highest levels in more than 20 years. The 30-year Treasury bond yields a stunning 5.57%, while the benchmark 10-year note, used with other components to determine mortgage rates, has jumped to 5.20%. Fixed-income assets are now competing with risk-free U.S. sovereign debt, and for some top stocks, it’s been a losing battle. Bond-proxy sectors like utilities, real estate, and consumer staples have been hit hard, and many top stocks in those sectors are being punished and trading at particularly attractive levels, with big discounts to their historical valuations.

Investors love dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends, and distributions realized over time. In other words, the total return on an investment or portfolio consists of income and stock appreciation. At 24/7 Wall St., we have focused on dividend stocks for 20 years because, despite the stock market’s ups and downs, many people need reliable passive income streams to supplement their income from employment or other sources, such as Social Security and pensions.

While the safety of U.S. Treasuries is appealing, when yields fall, and they eventually will, the price of those bonds will rise. Unless you are intent on holding them to maturity, you could face potential losses if you decide to sell them, or even worse, have to sell them. Plus, with inflation still sticky, much of which is due to higher energy prices, the interest paid on those bonds is ultimately lower with inflation factored in. There is no growth potential unless interest rates stay higher, and a return to the 10% rates of the early 1980s is unlikely.

We found five top companies that have been punished and offer some of the best entry points in years, providing growth and income for investors with some dry powder. All five are rated a buy by top Wall Street firms.

Dominion Energy Dominion Energy (NYSE:D | D Price Prediction) is an integrated energy utility. It offers electricity, natural gas, and related services. Many of the Wall Street firms we cover are positive on utilities, and this company pays a strong 4.40% dividend. NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is buying the company, and Dominion Energy shareholders will receive 0.8138 shares of NextEra Energy and a pro rata share of a $360 million one-time cash payment for each Dominion share they own. At current market pricing, the implied acquisition premium for Dominion Energy shareholders in the merger with NextEra Energy is about 2.87%.

Dominion Energy operates through four segments:

Dominion Energy Virginia Gas Distribution Dominion Energy South Carolina Contracted Assets The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina.

The Gas Distribution segment engages in

Regulated natural gas gathering Transportation Distribution and sales activities Distributes nonregulated renewable natural gas This segment serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

The Dominion Energy South Carolina segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in South Carolina.

Dominion serves approximately 7 million customers, and its portfolio of assets includes approximately:

30.2 gigawatts of electric generating capacity 10,500 miles of electric transmission lines 85,600 miles of electric distribution lines 94,200 miles of gas distribution lines TD Cowen has a Buy rating and an $80 target price.

Enterprise Products Partners This top midstream giant is an American midstream natural gas and crude oil pipeline company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) is one of the largest publicly traded energy partnerships and pays a very reliable 5.92% dividend.

The company’s debt-to-EBITDA ratio ranges from 3.1x to 3.4x, which is moderate for a midstream energy company, and its interest coverage ratio is 5x. Enterprise Products Partners generates strong free cash flow, with operating cash flow of about $8.8 billion, resulting in about $4.2 billion in free cash flow annually after deducting capital expenditures.

Another significant benefit for shareholders is that most corporate debt is fixed-rate, limiting the risk of rising interest rates. Capital-intensive buildouts face higher financing costs, but fixed-rate structures make this less of an issue.

Enterprise Products Partners provides a range of midstream energy services, including:

Gathering Processing Transporting and storing natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGL), and fractionation Import and export terminalling Offshore production platform services The company has four reportable business segments:

Natural Gas Pipelines and Services NGL Pipelines and Services Petrochemical Services Crude Oil Pipelines and Services One reason many analysts like the stock might be its distribution coverage ratio. The company’s coverage ratio is well above 1x, making it relatively less risky among the MLPs.

UBS has a Buy rating with a $45 target price.

UPS United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) announced last year that it would cut its shipping volume for e-commerce giant Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) by more than 50% by the second half of 2026, and it is one of the best ideas among the top dividend picks, with a dividend yield now at 6.98%. The package delivery giant faced headwinds from discontinuing its Amazon business and expectations of slower economic growth. The company said the move is part of a broader strategy to focus on more profitable, less risky business segments. UPS provides integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 200 countries and territories.

While UPS has never trimmed its dividend since listing in 1999, that track record offers reassurance rather than a guarantee—growth may pause, but a cut remains off the table for now.

Its U.S. Domestic Package segment offers a range of domestic air and ground package transportation services within the United States. Its air portfolio offers time-definite, same-day, next-day, two-day, and three-day delivery alternatives, as well as air cargo services. The ground network enables customers to ship using its day-definite ground service. UPS SurePost provides residential ground service for customers with non-urgent, lightweight residential shipments.

The International Package segment comprises its small package operations in Europe, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa, Canada, Latin America, and Asia. It offers a selection of guaranteed day- and time-definite international shipping services. Its supply chain solutions include forwarding, logistics, and other services.

Bernstein has a Buy rating and a $133 target price.

Verizon Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is an American multinational telecommunications company that continues to offer tremendous value. It trades at 9.13 times its estimated 2026 earnings and pays a 5.91% dividend. Verizon provides communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and government entities worldwide.

Verizon’s trailing 12-month interest coverage ratio is 4.6× to 5×, providing ample cushion for dividend payments. With a very predictable revenue stream from telecom services, the company has less exposure to commodity cycles. In addition, its scale helps with financing and absorbing shocks. Public reports indicate that management has increased the dividend for 20 consecutive years and expects at least $21.5 billion in free cash flow this year. While higher debt refinancing costs have weighed down capital-intensive telecom operations, Verizon offers strong, steady cash flow.

It operates in two segments. The Consumer segment provides wireless services across the United States through Verizon and TracFone networks, as well as through wholesale and other arrangements. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its wireless networks and related equipment and devices, such as:

Smartphones Tablets Smartwatches Other wireless-enabled connected devices The segment also offers wireline services in the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States through its fiber-optic network, Verizon Fios product portfolio, and copper-based network.

The Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including:

FWA broadband Data Video and conferencing Corporate networking Security and managed network Local and long-distance voice Network access services to deliver various IoT services and products to businesses, government customers, and wireless and wireline carriers in the United States and internationally.

TD Cowen has a Buy rating with a $56 target price.

VICI Properties VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI) is a New York City-based real estate investment trust that specializes in casino and entertainment properties. It offers a stellar dividend yield of 7.51% and is one of Wall Street’s top picks in the net lease group. It is ideal for more conservative investors seeking gaming exposure and a substantial dividend.

The stock is frequently flagged, alongside other stocks in this post, in dividend screens as a “safer” S&P 500 dividend dog with an attractive yield backed by long-term triple-net leases. With rising capitalization rates and sector-wide REIT selloffs, investors buying the dip could achieve significant total returns.

VICI Properties has one of the largest portfolios of market-leading gaming, hospitality, and entertainment destinations, including three iconic entertainment facilities on the Las Vegas Strip:

Caesars Palace Las Vegas MGM Grand The Venetian Resort Las Vegas VICI Properties owns 93 experiential assets across a geographically diverse portfolio of 54 gaming properties and 39 other experiential properties across the United States and Canada. The portfolio comprises about 127 million square feet and includes about 60,300 hotel rooms, plus over 500 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and sportsbooks. Gaming revenue has proven remarkably resilient in recent downturns, and its triple-net lease structure means VICI collects rent regardless of swings in tenant profitability.

VICI Properties has a growing array of real estate and financing partnerships with leading operators in other experiential sectors, including:

Bowlero Cabot Canyon Ranch Chelsea Piers Great Wolf Resorts Homefield Kalahari Resorts VICI Properties also owns four championship golf courses and 33 acres of undeveloped and underdeveloped land adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip.

Barclays has an Overweight rating with a $31 price objective.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of VICI, IIPR, O, IIPR.PR.A either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of VICI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:VICI – Get Free Report)’s share price hit a new 52-week low on Monday after Citizens Jmp lowered their price target on the stock from $35.00 to $31.00. Citizens Jmp currently has a market outperform rating on the stock. VICI Properties traded as low as $22.46 and last traded at $22.4470, with a volume of 396485 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.65.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on VICI. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price objective on VICI Properties from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Evercore set a $30.00 target price on VICI Properties in a research report on Monday, September 21st. Raymond James Financial set a $29.00 price target on VICI Properties in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on VICI Properties from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $30.00 price objective on shares of VICI Properties in a report on Friday, July 31st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, VICI Properties currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $30.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on VICI Properties

Hedge Funds Weigh In On VICI Properties A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VICI. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of VICI Properties during the second quarter valued at $3,433,817,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in VICI Properties by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 67,155,780 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,812,259,000 after buying an additional 2,920,133 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its position in VICI Properties by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 31,527,182 shares of the company’s stock valued at $837,047,000 after buying an additional 566,922 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in shares of VICI Properties during the second quarter worth approximately $778,709,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of VICI Properties by 2.3% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 15,457,602 shares of the company’s stock valued at $422,294,000 after acquiring an additional 344,355 shares in the last quarter. 97.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. VICI Properties Stock Up 0.0% The stock has a market cap of $24.94 billion, a PE ratio of 8.75 and a beta of 0.65. The business has a fifty day moving average of $25.37 and a 200-day moving average of $26.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.98.

VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.71 by ($0.09). VICI Properties had a net margin of 67.50% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.60 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. VICI Properties has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.450-2.470 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that VICI Properties Inc. will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current year.

VICI Properties Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 17th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.1%. This is a positive change from VICI Properties’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 17th. VICI Properties’s payout ratio is presently 71.32%.

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VICI Properties Inc (NYSE:VICI) is a real estate investment trust that owns and acquires experiential real estate, with a primary focus on gaming, hospitality and entertainment properties. The company generates revenue by leasing its properties to operating partners, generally under long-term, triple-net lease agreements that place responsibility for property-level expenses with the tenants.

VICI’s portfolio includes some of the most recognized gaming and resort destinations in the United States, including properties associated with Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International and other gaming operators.

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A downtrend has been apparent in VICI Properties Inc. (VICI - Free Report) lately with too much selling pressure. The stock has declined 10.9% over the past four weeks. However, given the fact that it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts are majorly in agreement about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier, the stock could be due for a turnaround.

We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.

Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.

So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.

However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.

Here's Why VICI Could Experience a TurnaroundThe RSI reading of 22.44 for VICI is an indication that the heavy selling could be in the process of exhausting itself, so the stock could bounce back in a quest for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.

This technical indicator is not the only factor that calls for a potential rebound for the stock. There is a fundamental indicator as well. A strong agreement among sell-side analysts covering VICI in raising earnings estimates for the current year has led to an increase in the consensus EPS estimate by 0.2% over the last 30 days. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, VICI currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

VICI Properties Inc. (VICI - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $22.73, demonstrating a -1.04% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.2% gain on the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.04%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 0.04%.

Shares of the company witnessed a loss of 10.31% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Finance sector with its loss of 4.84%, and the S&P 500's loss of 0.35%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of VICI Properties Inc. in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on October 28, 2026. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.61, indicating a 1.67% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.06 billion, up 5.67% from the year-ago period.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $2.47 per share and a revenue of $4.22 billion, demonstrating changes of +3.78% and +5.26%, respectively, from the preceding year.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for VICI Properties Inc. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.3% higher within the past month. VICI Properties Inc. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, VICI Properties Inc. is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.31. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 11.53.

The REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is part of the Finance sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 112, placing it within the top 46% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) (“VICI Properties” or the “Company”) announced today that it will release its third quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday October 28, 2026 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).Conference Call and WebcastPlease visit the VICI Properties website to listen to the earnings call via a live webca.

Key Takeaways VICI will lease Century Mile and Century Downs to Highfield under a new 20-year triple-net lease.Highfield's lease starts at C$10.7 million in annual rent, with increases tied to CPI or 1.25%.VICI's aggregate rent stays unchanged as C$10.7 million shifts from Century Casinos to Highfield. VICI Properties (VICI - Free Report) is set to add another tenant to its portfolio through agreements related to Century Mile Racetrack and Century Downs Racetrack in Alberta, Canada. Century Casinos has agreed to sell the racetracks’ operating businesses to a subsidiary of Highfield Investment Group. VICI will continue to own the underlying real estate and enter into a new triple-net lease with the Highfield subsidiary.

The new Century Mile & Downs lease will carry initial annual base rent of C$10.7 million, or approximately US$7.5 million. It will have a 20-year initial term and four five-year renewal options. Rent will increase annually by the greater of 1.25% or Canadian CPI, capped at 2.5%. The lease will also require minimum annual capital expenditures equal to 1% of net revenues at each property.

At the same time, VICI will amend its existing Century Master Lease and reduce Century Casinos’ annual base rent by a corresponding C$10.7 million. As a result, VICI’s aggregate rent collection will remain unchanged, while the rent associated with the two properties will shift from Century Casinos to Highfield.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Upon closing, Highfield will become VICI’s 17th tenant, further expanding the REIT's tenant roster.

That diversification has already accelerated in 2026. VICI added Clairvest, Golden Entertainment and Club Med in the second quarter of 2026, taking its tenant count to 16 at June-end. Its portfolio had 100% occupancy and a 39.6-year weighted average lease term, while 77% of rent came from publicly traded tenants.

Overall, the Highfield agreement looks more like a tenant reshuffling than a rent-growth deal, but it strengthens VICI’s diversification without reducing aggregate rent. This matters because Caesars and MGM still represented 38% and 32%, respectively, of annualized contractual rent as of Sept. 1, 2026, while Century Casinos accounted for only about 2%.

Over the past month, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have fallen 9.6% compared with the industry’s decrease of 4.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the broader REIT sector are Extra Space Storage (EXR - Free Report) and OUTFRONT Media (OUT - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXR’s 2026 FFO per share is pegged at $8.32, which indicates year-over-year growth of 1.3%.

The consensus estimate for OUT’s full-year FFO per share is pinned at $2.32, which calls for a 16.6% increase from the year-ago period.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $VICI--VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) (“VICI Properties”, “VICI” or the “Company”) announced today that, in connection with Century Casinos, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: CNTY) (“Century Casinos”) agreement to sell the operations of Century Mile Racetrack and Century Downs Racetrack (“Century Mile & Downs”), located in Alberta, Canada, to a subsidiary of Highfield Investment Group, Inc. (“Highfield”), VICI has agreed to enter into a new separate triple-net lease with a subsidiary of.

The yield you choose for a dividend portfolio changes the required capital by more than a million dollars, and picking the wrong one could leave you far short of your monthly income target.

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A $6,850 monthly dividend payment comes to $82,200 a year. Figuring out the savings needed to produce it takes one equation: annual income divided by yield equals capital required. The yield you choose changes the answer by more than $1 million.

The test case is a six-holding income portfolio: 25% in JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSEARCA:JEPI) and 15% each in Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHY), VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI), Capital Southwest (NASDAQ:CSWC), Reaves Utility Income Fund (NYSE:UTG), and Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK | DUK Price Prediction).

Treasuries set the benchmark: the 10-year yield stands near 5.2%, its 52-week high, so it would take about $1.6 million in Treasuries to pay $82,200. Every dividend level has to justify its risk against that number.

Sleep-at-Night Income Demands $2.2 Million Duke Energy yields about 3.8% on its $4.34 forward dividend. SCHY yields roughly 3.7% on trailing payouts. With a 3.8% yield, $82,200 divided by 0.038 equals about $2,163,000, and that extra capital buys stability. Duke just raised its quarterly dividend to $1.085 from $1.065 and is guiding to 5% to 7% annual EPS growth through 2030. SCHY spreads its income across foreign dividend payers such as BHP, TotalEnergies and Allianz. Duke’s dividends generally qualify for the lower tax rate on qualified dividends.

Rising Rates Pushed Moderate Yields Past 7% This level usually yields 5% to 7%. Higher rates have pushed it up: VICI yields about 7.8%, UTG about 7.2%, and JEPI about 8.1% on trailing distributions. With a 7.5% yield, $82,200 divided by 0.075 equals $1,096,000.

On the plus side, VICI’s properties are 100% occupied, with a 40-year average remaining lease term. The catch is concentration: Caesars makes up about 38% of rent and MGM about 32%, and the stock has fallen 21% over the past year. UTG recently raised its monthly payout to $0.21, while JEPI’s payouts depend on options premiums and have ranged from $0.34 to $0.45 per month this year. Most REIT income faces ordinary income tax rates.

Capital Southwest Gets There With $747,000 Capital Southwest yields about 11.1% on trailing payouts, including supplemental dividends. The regular $0.1934 monthly payout alone works out to about 10%. With an 11% yield, $82,200 divided by 0.11 equals about $747,000.

The loan book looks solid on paper. It is 99% first-lien, and non-accruals (loans that have stopped making interest payments are only 1%). But 96% of the loans carry floating rates, so income falls when rates fall. Shares near $23 trade well above net asset value of $17, which means buyers pay about 1.4 times book value.

Six-Holding Blend Needs About $1.2 Million Weighted by the portfolio’s allocations, the six holdings yield about 7.1%. Dividing $82,200 by 0.071 gives roughly $1,158,000, which puts the mix in the moderate range, with upside at both ends.

Dividend Growth Overtakes an 11% Yield in Six Years Put $1,096,000 into an 11% yield, and it makes up $120,560 a year, with no raises. Put the same amount into a 7.5% yield that grows at VICI’s five-year dividend pace of about 7% a year, and the income starts at $82,200. It passes $120,560 in about six years and reaches roughly $159,700 by year 10.

Duke’s slower growth of 2% a year still raises $82,200 to about $103,900 over a decade. A flat BDC payout buys a little less each year as inflation rises.

Three Moves Before Funding the Paycheck Size the plan on base income only. Capital Southwest’s supplemental dividends and JEPI’s changing payouts move from month to month. Build the $82,200 target on regular payouts like the $0.1934 monthly figure, and treat anything extra as a buffer. Put each holding in the right account. REIT, BDC, and covered call income is mostly taxed at ordinary rates. Holding VICI, Capital Southwest, and JEPI in IRAs and keeping Duke’s qualified dividends in taxable accounts reduces the gap between gross and after-tax income. Price every level against Treasuries. With Treasuries needing $1.6 million, the moderate level saves roughly $500,000 in capital in exchange for tenant concentration and stock price swings. Decide whether those savings cover those risks before picking a level. Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Most investors settle for the S&P 500's average 1.3% yield without realizing a handful of index giants quietly pay four times that amount, and a few of them have raised their dividends for decades straight.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $VICI--VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) (“VICI Properties,” “VICI” or the “Company”), an experiential real estate investment trust, today announced that John M. Sullivan has received all required approvals to assume his duties on the Company's Board of Directors (the “Board”). Mr. Sullivan has formally been appointed as an independent director of the Board and will serve on the Board's Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. In connection with the ef.

Shares of VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:VICI – Get Free Report) have received an average rating of “Hold” from the twelve brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $30.3077.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on VICI. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of VICI Properties from $34.00 to $31.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of VICI Properties from $30.00 to $27.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on VICI Properties from $31.00 to $29.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 15th. Robert W. Baird set a $32.00 price target on VICI Properties in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $30.00 price objective on VICI Properties in a research note on Friday, July 31st.

Get Our Latest Research Report on VICI

VICI Properties Trading Up 0.1% NYSE:VICI opened at $23.74 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.98. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $26.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.25. VICI Properties has a fifty-two week low of $23.72 and a fifty-two week high of $33.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.14 billion, a PE ratio of 9.20 and a beta of 0.65. VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.09). VICI Properties had a net margin of 67.50% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.60 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. VICI Properties has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.450-2.470 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that VICI Properties will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

VICI Properties Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 17th. This is a boost from VICI Properties’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. VICI Properties’s payout ratio is presently 71.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On VICI Properties Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in VICI Properties by 3.4% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 10,699,040 shares of the company’s stock worth $284,060,000 after acquiring an additional 349,262 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its position in shares of VICI Properties by 21.1% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 7,728,135 shares of the company’s stock valued at $205,182,000 after purchasing an additional 1,344,994 shares during the last quarter. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of VICI Properties during the second quarter worth approximately $4,858,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in shares of VICI Properties by 2.7% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 27,948,502 shares of the company’s stock worth $763,553,000 after purchasing an additional 734,068 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in VICI Properties by 19.3% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,097,823 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,147,000 after purchasing an additional 177,238 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.71% of the company’s stock.

VICI Properties Company Profile (Get Free Report)

VICI Properties, Inc (NYSE: VICI) is a real estate investment trust focused on experiential properties, particularly gaming, hospitality and entertainment destinations. The company owns the real estate associated with properties such as casinos, resorts and golf facilities, while operating partners manage the day-to-day businesses.

VICI’s portfolio includes prominent gaming and resort assets in Las Vegas and regional markets throughout the United States, as well as properties in Canada.

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VICI Properties is rated Buy with a $30 price target, offering 26% upside plus an 8% dividend yield. VICI's fundamentals remain strong: 100% occupancy, 100% triple-net leases, and a 39.4-year weighted average lease term. AFFO/share continues to grow (~5% annually), and the stock trades at a steep discount (9.6x 2026 AFFO vs. sector median 15x).

Two investors hold the exact same dividend ETF and receive identical distributions, yet one quietly hands thousands more to the IRS each year. The account they chose made all the difference.

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Two investors can hold the same dividend ETF, receive the same distributions, and keep very different amounts of income. The difference is the account. A qualified dividend from Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD) in a taxable brokerage is taxed at long-term capital-gains rates. The option-premium income from JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSEARCA:JEPI) is taxed as ordinary income, often at nearly double the rate. Put JEPI in a Roth IRA, and the tax bill is zero. Put it in a taxable account in the top bracket and roughly 37% of that income disappears. Same fund, same yield, wildly different outcomes.

Account location often matters more than yield selection, and the math changes meaningfully across low-, moderate-, and high-yield tiers.

Why Tax Character Beats Headline Yield Every dividend ETF distributes income with a tax character attached. SCHD’s payouts are largely qualified dividends, which stack onto long-term capital-gains rates: 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income. JEPI’s distributions come mostly from equity-linked notes and option premiums, which are ordinary income and taxed at your marginal bracket, up to 37% for singles above $640,600. REIT dividends from names like VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI | VICI Price Prediction) are also non-qualified ordinary income, which is why VICI’s roughly 7.5% yield looks very different depending on the wrapper.

The 2026 standard deduction of $32,200 for married couples filing jointly shelters some ordinary income, but any dividend portfolio large enough to matter will push distributions well past it.

Conservative Tier: 3% to 4% Yield, Highest Capital For its part, the popular SCHD pays a $1.01 annualized forward distribution on a $34 share price, which sits near the 3% line. Broad dividend-growth ETFs and blue-chip dividend equities cluster in the 3% to 4% band. To generate $60,000 at 3.5%, you need roughly $1,714,000 invested.

This tier rewards taxable placement. Qualified dividends at 15% federal cost about 15 cents per income dollar. Holdings like QUALCOMM, Texas Instruments, UnitedHealth, Coca-Cola, and Merck grow their payouts, compounding the income stream. SCHD has returned 238% over the past ten years.

Moderate Tier: 5% to 7% Yield, IRA Territory On the other hand, covered-call ETFs like JEPI, preferred shares, and net-lease REITs live here. To hit $60,000 at 5%, capital needed drops to $1,200,000. At 7%, it falls to roughly $857,000.

This is where tax location swings outcomes most. VICI’s distribution climbed from $0.2875 in 2019 to $0.46 declared in September 2026, an 8th consecutive annual increase. Every dollar is ordinary income. A 24%-bracket investor keeps 76 cents in taxable and 100 cents in a Roth IRA. On $60,000 of REIT income, that gap is $14,400 per year (one of nine IRS rules that quietly drain retirement accounts, all mapped in a free guide here).

The 10-year Treasury sits at 5%. A moderate-tier equity portfolio should out-yield Treasuries after tax, or the risk is not compensated.

Aggressive Tier: 8% to 14%, Where Capital Erodes Leveraged covered-call funds, business development companies, mortgage REITs, and high-yield bond funds sit here. At 10%, $60,000 requires only $600,000. Distributions are almost entirely ordinary income and often include return of capital. Many funds trade lower over time as they distribute more than they earn. These belong inside an IRA if held at all.

Compounding Traps That High Yields Hide A 3.5% SCHD-style yield growing 8% annually doubles the income stream in about nine years. A flat 10% yield stays at 10%. Nine years in, the lower yield pays 7% on original capital and still grows. VICI’s dividend nearly tripled from $0.16 in 2018 to $0.46 in 2026.

Three Moves Worth Making This Quarter Sort holdings by tax character, then place them. Qualified-dividend ETFs like SCHD and VIG belong in taxable accounts if IRA space is scarce. JEPI, VICI, mortgage REITs, and BDCs belong in a Traditional or Roth IRA where ordinary-income treatment is neutralized. Model your actual bracket. A retiree in the 22% bracket (single income above $50,400) loses far less to taxes on ordinary-income distributions than the 37% headline suggests. Compare 10-year total return, not current yield. SCHD’s 27% one-year return isn’t typical, but its ten-year record shows why a lower starting yield with growth often beats a static high yield after taxes and inflation. The equation stays simple: income divided by yield equals capital. The account you hold it in decides how much of that income you actually keep.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Allworth Financial LP reduced its position in shares of VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:VICI – Free Report) by 68.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,842 shares of the company’s stock after selling 20,941 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP’s holdings in VICI Properties were worth $261,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in VICI Properties during the second quarter worth approximately $3,433,817,000. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in shares of VICI Properties during the 2nd quarter valued at $778,709,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of VICI Properties during the 4th quarter valued at $537,676,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new stake in shares of VICI Properties during the 2nd quarter worth $366,514,000. Finally, Man Group plc bought a new stake in shares of VICI Properties during the 2nd quarter worth $318,249,000. 97.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

VICI Properties Stock Performance VICI stock opened at $24.10 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 1.98. The stock has a market cap of $26.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.34 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $27.30. VICI Properties Inc. has a 52 week low of $24.07 and a 52 week high of $33.01.

VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.09). VICI Properties had a net margin of 67.50% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.60 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. VICI Properties has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.450-2.470 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that VICI Properties Inc. will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. VICI Properties Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 17th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.6%. This is an increase from VICI Properties’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 17th. VICI Properties’s dividend payout ratio is presently 69.77%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird set a $32.00 target price on VICI Properties in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on VICI Properties from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $30.00 price objective on VICI Properties in a report on Friday, July 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their target price on shares of VICI Properties from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on shares of VICI Properties from $34.00 to $31.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, VICI Properties has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $30.31.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on VICI

VICI Properties Profile (Free Report)

VICI Properties, Inc (NYSE: VICI) is a real estate investment trust focused on experiential properties, particularly gaming, hospitality and entertainment destinations. The company owns the real estate associated with properties such as casinos, resorts and golf facilities, while operating partners manage the day-to-day businesses.

VICI’s portfolio includes prominent gaming and resort assets in Las Vegas and regional markets throughout the United States, as well as properties in Canada.

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The yield you chase to replace a six-figure salary determines far more than how much capital you need. It quietly sets your exposure to leverage, dividend cuts, and an NAV that can quietly bleed out before you notice.

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Replacing a $130,000 salary with portfolio income means generating roughly $10,833 a month without selling shares. That is the income of a senior engineer, a mid-career physician, or a two-earner household in a high-cost metro. The exact capital you need depends entirely on the yield you accept, and the trade-offs at each yield level are larger than most investors expect.

The core equation is simple: income divided by yield equals capital. Everything else is negotiation with risk.

Where the Benchmarks Sit Right Now Any yield discussion starts with the risk-free alternative. The 10-Year Treasury yields 5%, near its one-year high, while the Fed funds upper bound sits at 3.75%. A dividend strategy has to justify itself against those numbers. Anything yielding less than 5% is asking you to accept equity risk for the promise of growth. Anything yielding well above 5% is compensating you for something: concentration, leverage, or a capped upside.

Tier 1: The 3% to 4% Range Costs the Most Capital Broad dividend and dividend-growth ETFs typically live here, alongside high-quality regulated utilities. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK | DUK Price Prediction) yields roughly 3.6% at $118, backed by a 5% to 7% long-term EPS growth plan and data-center demand tailwinds. iShares Core High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:HDV) sits in a similar band with a 0.08% expense ratio. Growth-tilted vehicles like iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:DGRO) pay less current income, around $1.54 annualized on a $77 share, but grow the payment.

At 3.5%, replacing $130,000 requires $3,714,286. That is the sleep-at-night number. Principal is most likely to appreciate, payouts tend to rise, and cuts are rare.

Tier 2: The 5% to 7% Sweet Spot Net-lease REITs, elevated-yield large caps, and covered-call equity funds cluster here. VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI) yields roughly 7.3% after a 21% one-year price decline, with a 39.6-year weighted lease term and 2% annual escalators, though Caesars and MGM together account for 70% of rent. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) yields around 6.2% at $28, though a $1.5 billion 2026 patent-cliff drag keeps sustainability questions open.

At 6%, the capital requirement drops to $2,166,667, during which you give up some dividend growth and accept sector concentration in REITs, utilities, and pharma, but the math becomes achievable for many pre-retirees.

Tier 3: The 8% to 14% Range Buys Income and Sells Growth Business development companies, mortgage REITs, leveraged covered-call funds, and high-yield credit funds sit here. At 10%, $130,000 requires just $1,300,000. The tradeoff is structural: distributions frequently include return of capital, NAVs tend to drift lower over time, and cuts happen when credit cycles turn. You are living off the asset itself, with growth taking a back seat.

Compounding Beats Headline Yield Over a Decade A dividend growing 8% annually doubles in nine years. A dividend-growth portfolio yielding 2% today can generate more income in a decade than a static 10% payer, while the principal grows too. DGRO returned 258% over 10 years. A high-yield fund with flat NAV and flat distributions cannot match that outcome, regardless of the current headline yield.

A Blended Portfolio Makes the Numbers Work A realistic mix, 30% HDV, 15% DGRO, 20% GPIX, 15% VICI, 10% DUK, 10% PFE, produces a blended 4.8% yield. That requires $2,705,515 to cover $130,000 in annual payments. The blend spreads sector concentration, keeps some dividend-growth engine in the portfolio, and uses higher-yield sleeves to reduce the total capital hurdle (we walked through the full mix, payment calendar, and withdrawal order in a free paycheck portfolio guide).

Three Steps Worth Taking This Week Calculate your actual after-tax spending, not your gross salary. Qualified dividends in the 22% or 24% federal bracket for single filers earning $130,000 are taxed at the 15% long-term capital gains rate, while REIT distributions from VICI hit at ordinary rates. Your replacement number is likely lower than $130,000. Model the 10-year total return of a dividend-growth fund against a 10%-yield fund with flat NAV. The compounding gap is the entire argument for accepting a lower starting yield. If you are within five years of drawing income, stress-test the blended portfolio against a 20% dividend cut scenario. A REIT tenant renegotiation or a pharma patent expiration can move the number faster than a rate change. Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:VICI – Free Report) by 48.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 132,052 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 42,945 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC’s holdings in VICI Properties were worth $3,506,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VICI. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of VICI Properties during the second quarter worth $3,433,817,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in VICI Properties by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 36,209,246 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,030,716,000 after purchasing an additional 1,037,345 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its stake in VICI Properties by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 31,527,182 shares of the company’s stock worth $837,047,000 after purchasing an additional 566,922 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in VICI Properties in the 2nd quarter worth $778,709,000. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in VICI Properties during the 4th quarter worth about $537,676,000. Institutional investors own 97.71% of the company’s stock.

VICI Properties Stock Down 1.3% VICI Properties stock opened at $24.72 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. VICI Properties Inc. has a 1-year low of $24.66 and a 1-year high of $33.17. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $26.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $27.38. The company has a market cap of $27.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.58 and a beta of 0.65.

VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.09). VICI Properties had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 67.50%.The business had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.60 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. VICI Properties has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.450-2.470 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that VICI Properties Inc. will post 2.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. VICI Properties Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 17th. This is a boost from VICI Properties’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.4%. VICI Properties’s dividend payout ratio is currently 69.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have issued reports on VICI shares. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on VICI Properties in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $29.00 price target on the stock. Scotiabank reduced their price objective on VICI Properties from $32.00 to $29.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Barclays decreased their price objective on VICI Properties from $34.00 to $31.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on VICI Properties from $31.00 to $29.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald cut their target price on VICI Properties from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $30.31.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on VICI Properties

(Free Report)

VICI Properties, Inc (NYSE: VICI) is a real estate investment trust focused on experiential properties, particularly gaming, hospitality and entertainment destinations. The company owns the real estate associated with properties such as casinos, resorts and golf facilities, while operating partners manage the day-to-day businesses.

VICI’s portfolio includes prominent gaming and resort assets in Las Vegas and regional markets throughout the United States, as well as properties in Canada.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than VICI Properties Running on Empty: 3 Energy Plays for Europe’s Deep Freeze 3 Healthcare Stocks for 3 Stages of Life Curaleaf Tries To Roll Up Aurora In a Hostile Cannabis Bid MarketBeat’s Most Downgraded Stocks in Q3: 2 Look Cheap, 1 Looks Risky Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VICI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:VICI – Free Report).

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