Want $3,500 per Year in Monthly Passive Income? Invest Just $2,500 in These Dividend Stocks

"Successful passive income investing doesn't have to be overly expensive or labor-intensive. With just $2,500 invested in a handful of stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs), you can target an annual income goal of $3,500. Not only that, but you can get cash in your account each and every month. The secret sauce is to combine high-paying dividend stocks with ETFs that offer juicy distribution yields. Overall, the math should work out in your favor. If you invest $2,500 in five stocks/ETFs, that would be a $12,500 total investment."

"Apple Hospitality REIT (APLE) is, as the company's name implies, a real estate investment trust or REIT. Its focus is "hospitality" assets, which is a fancy way of saying that Apple Hospitality REIT invests in a portfolio of upscale hotels. We're not just talking about a few hotels here. All told, Apple Hospitality REIT's portfolio includes " 218 hotels with more than 29,500 guest rooms located in 84 markets throughout 37 states and the District of Columbia. Rest assured, I wouldn't put any financial slackers on this list. My due diligence found that Apple Hospitality REIT is income-positive, having reported more than $50 million worth of net income in 2025's third quarter."

"Furthermore, Apple Hospitality REIT pays monthly cash dividends and provides a forward annual dividend yield of 8.3%. That falls short of the 28% average annual yield goal, but we're only allocating $2,500 toward APLE stock shares out of a total $12,000 investment today."

A $2,500 allocation into five high-yield stocks and ETFs (totaling $12,500) targets $3,500 in annual passive income, requiring an average yield near 28%. The approach combines high-paying dividend stocks with ETFs that offer elevated distribution yields to deliver monthly cash. Apple Hospitality REIT focuses on upscale hotels, with a portfolio of 218 hotels and more than 29,500 guest rooms across 84 markets in 37 states and the District of Columbia, reported over $50 million net income in Q3 2025, and pays monthly dividends with a forward yield of 8.3%. Prospect Capital Corp. is a business development company that pays monthly dividends and invests in U.S. middle-market companies.

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