A Perfect May TFSA With a 4% Monthly Payout

A 4% yield with monthly payouts and a disciplined growth strategy make this TSX stock stand out in May 2026.

Key Points
  • Killam Apartment REIT (TSX:KMP.UN) continues benefiting from strong apartment occupancy and resilient rental demand.
  • The residential REIT increased adjusted funds from operations per unit by 4.3% while maintaining a 4% payout.
  • Development projects and ongoing unit buybacks could support long-term growth for TFSA investors.

Not every stock in your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) needs to deliver explosive returns to be valuable. For many investors, the ideal holding is one that quietly generates dependable monthly income while continuing to grow steadily over time. That combination could become especially attractive during market volatility when stability matters more than chasing high-growth stocks.

One Canadian real estate investment trust (REIT) appears to offer exactly that balance right now. The company owns a large portfolio of apartment properties across Canada and continues benefiting from strong occupancy levels and resilient housing demand. At the same time, its disciplined expansion projects and rising cash flow are supporting its monthly payouts, with a yield of roughly 4%. Let’s discuss why this monthly dividend stock could be a perfect addition to your TFSA portfolio this May.

House models and one with REIT real estate investment trust.

Source: Getty Images

A residential REIT with steady momentum

The stock I’d point to here is Killam Apartment REIT (TSX: KMP.UN), which has been quietly benefiting from strong demand in Canada’s rental housing market. If you don’t know it already, it mainly operates and develops apartments and manufactured home communities across Canada. The company’s portfolio is currently valued at roughly $5.5 billion and benefits from geographic diversification, with strong exposure to Atlantic Canada.

After gaining nearly 11% over the last 30 days, Killam stock trades around $18 per share, giving it a market cap of more than $2.2 billion. Strong occupancy trends have played an important role in its recent rally.

Notably, Killam posted healthy apartment occupancy levels of 97% in the first quarter of 2026, helping support stable rental revenue growth across its portfolio. The REIT’s Atlantic Canadian markets continue performing especially well, benefiting from population growth and sustained housing demand.

Strong operational performance continues

In addition to solid occupancy, Killam Apartment REIT’s latest quarterly results highlighted the resilience of its business model despite broader economic uncertainty. Its same-property apartment portfolio generated net operating income (NOI) growth of 4% year-over-year (YoY) with the help of a 3.6% increase in its same-property apartment revenue.

Overall, the REIT’s NOI increased 5.1% YoY to $62 million, reflecting strong operational execution and improving property performance. While its reported net profit declined to $50.3 million in the latest quarter from $101.9 million a year ago, that drop was mainly due to lower fair-value gains on its investment properties rather than weakening operations.

More importantly for REIT investors, Killam’s funds from operations (FFO) remained stable at $0.28 per unit, while its adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) increased 4.3% YoY to $0.24 per unit. That AFFO growth clearly reflected the company’s disciplined capital recycling strategy, where older assets are sold, and capital is reinvested into newer and more efficient properties.

Meanwhile, its investors also continue benefiting from reliable monthly income as it currently offers a dividend yield of roughly 4%, with a monthly distribution.

Why this TFSA stock still looks attractive for monthly income

Beyond stable income, Killam continues to boost its future growth prospects through development projects and shareholder-friendly initiatives. The company recently completed Brightwood, a new residential development in Waterloo, ahead of schedule and below budget. Its leasing activity has been strong, which could support future revenue growth.

Encouraged by its latest results, Killam’s management recently raised its same-property apartment revenue growth target for 2026 to above 3.5%, reflecting confidence in market conditions and rental demand. At the same time, Killam is actively repurchasing its shares as it deployed more than $6 million toward share buybacks during the first quarter alone.

With stable occupancy, growing cash flow, disciplined capital allocation, and a reliable monthly payout, Killam Apartment REIT looks like an amazing TFSA stock for investors seeking both monthly income and long-term stability.

Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Dividend Stocks

man in suit looks at a computer with an anxious expression
Dividend Stocks

Dividend Income in a TFSA: Why I Love This Tax-Free Setup

If you don't like paying tax on your passive income, use this tax-free set up in your TFSA to generate…

Read more »

woman looks ahead of her over water
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Retirement Plan: 2 Dividend Stocks Paying Nearly 6% Annually for Tax-Free Passive Income

These industry leaders now offer attractive dividend yields.

Read more »

middle-aged couple work together on laptop
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Build a $250-a-Month Income Plan Without Chasing the Biggest Yields

A roughly $75,000 portfolio can supply $250 a month on average without relying on unusually high yields.

Read more »

golden sunset in crude oil refinery with pipeline system
Dividend Stocks

Enbridge vs. TC Energy: Which Pipeline Stock Is the Better Buy Going Into 2027?

Let’s evaluate Enbridge and TC Energy across historical returns, growth prospects, dividend track records, and valuation to determine which pipeline…

Read more »

dividends grow over time
Dividend Stocks

How to Structure a $20,000 TFSA for Lifelong Monthly Income

These TSX stocks offer high yields and distribute monthly dividend payouts. Sustainable payouts generate steady income.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Dividend Stocks

How to Use Your TFSA to Average $408.75 per Month in Tax-Free Passive Income

This strategy can lower risk while also boosting yield.

Read more »

some investments are riskier than others
Dividend Stocks

Manulife vs. Sun Life: Which Stock Makes More Sense for a Retirement TFSA?

Sun Life offers slightly more starting income, while both insurers bring growth opportunities and market-sensitive risks.

Read more »

dividend stocks are a good way to earn passive income
Dividend Stocks

Starting With $25,000: How I’d Build Towards $500 a Month in Dividends

A $25,000 starting portfolio can become a useful income engine, with contributions doing more of the work than a giant…

Read more »