This 8.6% Dividend Is A Top Play On A REIT Revival

A multi-year disconnect in high-yielding REITs is about to turn on its head. When it does, these solid income plays are poised to shoot ahead of stocks.

Forbes • Feb 7, 2026

RFI: Directly Aligned To Benefit From Data Center Growth But Flawed Structure

Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund is rated a hold, balancing stable income with exposure to AI-driven data center growth. RFI offers an 8.5% yield and monthly payouts, but recent distributions have exceeded earnings, risking NAV erosion if this persists. The fund's top-heavy portfolio, with significant allocations to data centers and healthcare REITs, positions RFI to benefit from AI infrastructure expansion.

Seeking Alpha • Feb 6, 2026

Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc. (RFI) Notification of Sources of Distribution Under Section 19(a)

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RFI) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on January 30, 2026 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date. In December 2011, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

PRNewsWire • Jan 27, 2026

REIT Market Perspectives - December 2025

Year-to-date returns across the REIT market varied remarkably, with large gains from non-U.S. REITs and U.S. healthcare REITs, while U.S. residential and data center sectors were notable laggards. In the last three years, there have been two major forces impacting the performance of equity markets and real estate. Today's public REIT market looks a lot different than what most investors expect. Sectors previously considered niche have grown to be essential in today's economy and society.

Seeking Alpha • Nov 26, 2025

RFI: A Look At This Non-Leveraged 8.6% Yielding Real Estate Fund

Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty is a closed-end fund targeting high total returns through real estate securities investments. The fund invests across the real estate spectrum, including REITs, preferreds, debt, and up to 10% in illiquid securities. We go over why we prefer this CEF over its brethren and also tell you why we haven't bought it yet.

Seeking Alpha • Nov 21, 2025

RFI: Consistent Dividends But Underperforms Peer Funds (Rating Downgrade)

Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty (RFI) offers instant diversification across real estate sub-sectors and an 8.5% yield, but underperforms peers. RFI now trades at a slight discount to NAV, but lacks standout features for outperformance or resilience compared to RQI and RNP. While RFI provides consistent monthly payouts, concerns remain about the sustainability of distributions if sector conditions do not improve.

Seeking Alpha • Nov 20, 2025

Some REIT CEFs For Income Investors To Consider As Rates Come Down

Lower interest rates create a favorable environment for REITs, enhancing valuations, reducing borrowing costs, and supporting high-yield distributions for income investors. Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund (RQI) and peers like RLTY, RNP, RFI, and IGR offer diversified exposure to top REITs with yields up to 15%. Welltower (WELL) and Equinix (EQIX) stand out among REIT holdings, with WELL benefiting from senior housing demand and EQIX positioned for data center growth.

Seeking Alpha • Nov 6, 2025

REIT Earnings Preview: Here's What We're Watching

Real estate earnings season kicks into gear this week, and over the next month, we'll hear results from 175 equity REITs, 40 mortgage REITs, and dozens of housing industry companies. One step forward, one back: Matching the stubborn performance pattern seen last year, REITs rallied ahead of the Fed's September rate cut but stumbled into the start of earnings season. In this report, we focus specifically on property-level fundamentals, previewing and forecasting REIT earnings performance based on an analysis of recent indicators across various sources.

Seeking Alpha • Oct 22, 2025

Why U.S. REITs May Shine In A Rate-Cutting Environment

For nearly five decades, US REITs have delivered stronger returns than broad US stocks in the 12 months following Federal Reserve easing cycles. Rate cuts may increase the attractiveness of REIT dividends, potentially making them a compelling option for investors seeking yield potential and portfolio diversification. Data centers, telecom infrastructure, and health care REITs have historically benefited the most from lower rates due to long-duration leases and capital-intensive models.

Seeking Alpha • Oct 1, 2025

The State Of REITs: September 2025 Edition

REITs performed very well in August (+5.48%), almost pulling the REIT sector's year-to-date total return back into the black (-1.11%). Small cap (+7.52%) and mid cap REITs (+7.13%) averaged strong gains in August while large caps (+3.16%) and micro caps (+0.87%) averaged more modest returns. 83.87% of REIT securities had a positive total return in August.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 16, 2025