10 Stocks I am Retiring On

8. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O)

Short Interest: 4.07%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34

Realty Income Corporation owns over 15,000 net leased properties and pays dividends on a monthly basis. Third quarter AFFO increased 3.7% to $1.12 per share and the company updated its outlook for 2026 AFFO to $4.45 to $4.46. Realty Income invested $2.6 billion during the quarter at an initial cash yield of 6.8%, creating a spread of approximately 170 basis points over its cost of capital.

Matt DiLallo highlighted Realty Income as an anchor of his retirement portfolio in his October 2026 article. His case paired sustainable, rising dividends with historically low share price volatility, citing a beta of around 0.5. As he approaches retirement, he seeks assets that can help safeguard his accumulated wealth while also growing it, and he sees Realty Income as a great fit for that goal.

Growth is moderate, hence the yield accounts for the majority of the return. The AFFO outlook implies roughly 4% growth, the GAAP P/E of around 40x is not meaningful enough, and the shares are trading well below their 52-week high of $67.94. Moreover, the average analyst estimate of $62.7 implies a 6.2% gain. The €528 million KKR investment in a European property venture may provide a new source of capital and management fees, but it also transfers a portion of the rental economics to the partner. Whether this increases shareholder returns depends on how profitably Realty Income redeploys the capital. See whether a partner investment can boost returns here.

7. VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:VICI)

Short Interest: 2.90%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51

VICI Properties Inc. owns casino and experience properties under long-term triple-net leases. The company’s third-quarter AFFO increased 4.3% to $0.62 per share, with guidance raised to $2.47 to $2.48. The stock yields 7.3% on its $1.84 annual dividend, which was increased for the ninth straight year and is covered by approximately 75% of AFFO. The board also authorized a $2 billion buyback, a sign management sees the shares as cheap.

VICI is a stock that DiLallo has expressly linked to his retirement plans. In February 2025, he stated why he continued to buy it in his retirement account, claiming that its consistent rental income and ability to increase dividends may help him grow his retirement savings. The premise is not a bet on casino operator quarterly winnings, but rather an investment in the properties’ long-term rental obligations.

That said, GAAP results appear to be less favorable than cash flow. Net income per share declined to $0.31 from $0.71, owing to a non-cash credit loss allowance, missing the $0.72 average. Growth is moderate, at around 4%, and the portfolio is reliant on a limited number of casino operators, though the new Highfield tenant offers diversity. For retirement investors, the question is whether modest AFFO growth and dividend coverage effectively compensate for tenant concentration and financing risk, the trade-off behind Insider Monkey’s assessment of whether VICI’s dividend is a decent return for the risks.

6. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Short Interest: 1.89%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64

Waste Management, Inc. is North America’s largest waste hauler, and the premium it charges is based on pricing power and cash flow. Third-quarter revenue increased by 6.3% to $6.85 billion, adjusted operational EBITDA rose by 5.8% to $2.12 billion at a 31.0% margin, and free cash flow increased by 42% to $3.01 billion through the nine months. Guidance calls for $3.75 billion to $3.85 billion in free cash flow, roughly a 4% yield on a market capitalization of almost $94 billion.

DiLallo listed WM as a key holding in his October 2026 retirement-portfolio discussion. He cited 23 years of dividend increases, an 8.7% compound annual dividend growth rate over the previous decade, and a 12.4% decrease in outstanding shares since 2015. Its A-/A3 credit ratings and beta of around 0.56 confirmed his belief that WM could combine wealth preservation and expansion, while its network of landfills and other specialized facilities bolstered the core business case.

However, the company’s multiple leaves little margin for mistake. Adjusted EPS of $2.15 missed by $0.03, and shares declined around 3% following the release, with management citing lower volumes and increased fuel costs. Free cash flow also flattered by a drop in capital spending. The bigger concern is whether WM’s pricing power, landfill network, recycling automation, renewable natural gas, and healthcare-waste expansion can justify a premium valuation despite moderate underlying volume growth. Insider Monkey looked into the trade-off and concluded that WM’s hard-to-copy infrastructure and capacity to extract more value from existing waste could support a steady-compounding thesis.

5. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B)

Short Interest: 0.98%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 135

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a rare mega-cap company valued at book value. The third-quarter results, released on November 7, came in soft. Operating earnings fell 5.8% to $12.7 billion, while net earnings fell 28% to $22.1 billion due to lower investment gains. A the same time, insurance underwriting earnings fell 43% to $1.35 billion as a result of Geico losses. Berkshire responded with a record buyback for 2026. It repurchased $9.6 billion in the quarter, more than doubling the second quarter’s $4.5 billion, bringing the total for the year to $14.4 billion.

Keith Speights placed Berkshire in his January 2026 “forever” portfolio of equities that he doesn’t plan to sell. His conviction is based on the diversification afforded by Berkshire’s operating subsidiaries and public-equity investments, as well as his belief that Greg Abel will continue Buffett’s business and investing philosophy.

The risk is in the earnings engine rather than the balance sheet. Berkshire’s trailing twelve-month operating earnings are down 3.2%, insurance investment income dropped 14% due to lower short-term rates, and the company was a net seller of stocks again. The cash only helps if Abel can find places to put it. Read about whether the capital allocation mechanism can continue to compound after Buffett here.