Image source: Getty Images. Through this past weekend, all three major U.S. indexes had gained between 16% and 24% year to date, which trounces historic annual returns for the market of around 7%, inclusive of dividends and when adjusted for inflation. With a 4.4% yield, it also happens to be a high-yield stock, although that shouldn't be too surprising, given that REITs pay out most of their profits in the form of a dividend to avoid normal corporate income tax rates.