So I've been looking at dividend portfolios lately, and there's something interesting happening right now with yields. If you've got $1,000 to deploy, you can actually grab some solid income-generating shares for long term investment without compromising on quality.

Let me break down three that caught my attention. First up is Realty Income (O). The yield is sitting at 4.9%, which is pretty attractive in this environment. What makes this REIT interesting is the track record - 30 years of consecutive dividend increases. That's not something you see everywhere. The business owns over 15,500 single-tenant properties, mostly retail, so you're getting exposure to both real estate and the consumer sector. The payout ratio is reasonable at 75% FFO, meaning there's cushion if things get rough. With $1,000, you'd pick up around 15 shares for long term investment that should generate consistent income.

Then there's Enterprise Products Partners (EPD). This one yields 6%, and here's the kicker - they've increased distributions for 27 consecutive years. Enterprise operates the midstream infrastructure that moves oil and gas globally. The beauty of this structure is they're basically a toll taker, not a commodity player. They charge fees regardless of price fluctuations, which means the distribution is covered 1.7x by cash flow. That's a comfortable margin. For $1,000, you'd get roughly 27 units. It's slow growth, but paired with a 6% yield, that's not something to dismiss.

Now, Texas Instruments (TXN) is the outlier here. The yield is only 2.6%, which seems lower on the surface. But here's why it matters - they make analog chips that power everything digital, and they've raised dividends for 22 consecutive years straight. Data center sales just jumped 70% year-over-year in Q4. The company is mid-cycle on a major capex push to expand capacity. So unlike the other two, you're getting growth potential alongside your dividend income. This is the one where you're not sacrificing upside.

The common thread? All three have proven they can maintain and grow distributions through cycles. That matters more than chasing the highest yield. I've seen too many people get burned focusing only on yield without checking whether the business can actually support it.

If you're thinking about which shares for long term investment make sense from your $1,000, honestly, you could split it across all three. Realty Income if you want maximum income and stability. Enterprise if you want a higher yield with infrastructure durability. Texas Instruments if you want growth mixed with your dividend. Or go all-in on one depending on your portfolio already looks.

The key is treating these as actual holdings you'd keep for years, not trading vehicles. Let the dividends compound, or use them to supplement income later. That's where the real power shows up.

I'm watching all three closely right now. The yields are attractive relative to their historical ranges, and the businesses show no signs of cutting distributions. Worth adding to your watchlist if income-focused shares for long term investment are on your radar.