Want $1,000 in Annual Dividend Income? Invest in These Stocks

Investing in dividend-paying companies can be a great way to generate passive income. Historically, some of the best dividend stocks have been real estate investment trusts (REITs). They typically offer above-average dividend yields, with their payouts steadily growing over time.

The sector's higher yields allow investors to generate more dividend income with a lower up-front investment. For example, $20,000 invested across four high-quality, high-yielding REITs -- W.P. Carey (NYSE: WPC), EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) -- can deliver more than $1,000 of annual income.