Dividend Stocks Yielding Over 8.5% to Buy With $1,000 Right Now -- and Hold for a Lifetime of Passive Income

Dividend-focused investing is gaining renewed attention as the S&P 500’s yield sits near a multi-decade low of about 1%, pushing some income seekers toward higher-yield options above 8%—with inherent risks. The article highlights three companies: Starwood Property Trust (STWD), currently around an 11.5% yield, which would generate about $115 annually on a $1,000 investment. Starwood, a mortgage REIT, distributes at least 90% of taxable income under IRS rules and has not cut its dividend since its 2010 IPO, maintaining payments since 2014. It diversifies across commercial loans (52%), infrastructure (10%), residential (8%), other assets (10%), and owned properties (20%), including a $2.2 billion acquisition of Fundamental Income Properties last year. Main Street Capital (MAIN) and Western Midstream Partners are also cited as yielding above 8.5%.