Some top monthly dividend stocks fail to sustain payouts or strong returns over a decade.

An audit of America's six largest monthly dividend payers over the past decade shows mixed results. Half of these companies failed to maintain consistent monthly dividends or deliver strong total returns. For example, EPR Properties and Apple Hospitality suspended dividends during the 2020 pandemic, with Apple Hospitality only resuming monthly payments two years later. Realty Income, despite its reputation as "The Monthly Dividend Company," returned just 48% over ten years. AGNC Investment Corp cut dividends in 2020 and never restored them, resulting in poor returns. Agree Realty performed well with a 135% return but only recently switched to monthly dividends. The standout is Main Street Capital, which has paid uninterrupted monthly dividends since 2007 and achieved a 236% total return, supported by a unique business model and insider ownership. This highlights the risk of relying solely on high monthly yields without considering dividend sustainability and stock price growth.