Want $3,600 in Passive Income? Invest $10,000 Into These 3 High-Yielding Stocks

Market volatility in 2026 has reminded investors that earned income and capital gains can disappear faster than they accumulate. When equity indexes swing sharply on headlines, the case for cash flow that arrives regardless of price action becomes clear. A portfolio built around high-yield dividend payers carries risk, but separates income from daily market noise.

In fact, high-yield dividend stocks offer liquidity, combined with income streams. Business development companies, mortgage REITs, and hybrid credit vehicles are engineered to pass the bulk of earnings directly to shareholders.

For this article, we screened dividend stocks and found three companies. Combined, these can generate over $3,600 a year in passive annual income on a $10,000 investment in each stock.

Ares Capital

• Stock #3: Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC)
• Yield: 10.36%
• Shares for $10,000: 539
• Annual Passive Income: ~$1,035

Ares Capital is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC) in the United States. It provides customized financing to middle-market companies through first lien senior secured loans. The firm’s portfolio spans $29.48 billion across 603 companies. About 80% is allocated to first lien senior secured loans, giving it a defensive credit posture relative to peers.

BDCs are required by law to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders. In addition, the company has maintained a consistent quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share, or a $1.92 annual dividend per share.

In addition, its non-accrual rate stands at just 1.8%, meaning very few borrowers are failing to make payments. The firm reported record full-year 2025 gross commitments of $15.8 billion, and carries an investment backlog of approximately $2.2 billion as of January 29, 2026. That signals continued deal flow.

Ellington Financial

• Stock #2: Ellington Financial (NYSE:EFC)
• Yield: 12.33%
• Shares for $10,000: 790
• Annual Passive Income: ~$1,232

Ellington Financial operates as a hybrid mortgage REIT. It holds non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) loans, agency-eligible loans, closed-end second lien loans, proprietary reverse mortgages through Longbridge, and commercial mortgage bridge loans. That diversification gives it multiple levers to pull when one corner of the mortgage market comes under pressure.

As a REIT, Ellington Financial must distribute substantially all taxable income, anchoring the yield at elevated levels. The company pays a monthly dividend of $0.13 per share, adding up to $1.56 per share annually. That payment is well-supported: adjusted distributable earnings of $0.47 per share in Q4 2025 covered the $0.39 quarterly dividend with room to spare. The company has scaled securitization activity, pricing 20 securitizations in 2025, triple the prior year’s pace, and completed a $400 million unsecured notes offering, its largest to date. Institutional ownership stands at approximately 47%, and the analyst consensus price target of $14.62 implies meaningful upside from the current price of $12.65.

AGNC Investment

• Stock #1: AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC)
• Yield: 13.61%
• Shares for $10,000: 945
• Annual Passive Income: ~$1,361

AGNC Investment is the largest pure-play agency mortgage REIT in the United States. Because agency MBS carry implicit U.S. government backing, credit risk is minimal. The yield comes from leverage and the spread between borrowing costs and income earned on underlying securities, with a net interest spread of 1.81% as of the most recent quarter.

AGNC’s REIT structure requires it to distribute the vast majority of taxable income. The company has delivered a consistent monthly dividend of $0.12 per share for 16 consecutive months, totaling $1.44 per share annually. In 2025, total stock return with dividends reinvested reached 34.8%, and economic return on tangible common equity for the full year came in at 22.7%. Institutional investors own approximately 39% of shares, and the current price of $10.58 sits well below the 52-week high of $11.79, offering income investors an entry point with a yield north of 13%.

In conclusion, combined, these three positions generate $3,628 in annual passive income on a $30,000 total investment. Ares Capital contributes $1,035, Ellington Financial adds $1,232, and AGNC Investment rounds out the portfolio with $1,361.