Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
AAPL vs MSFT
Apple Inc versus Microsoft Corp. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
AAPL wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MSFT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | AAPL | MSFT | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.36% | 0.92% | MSFT wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 7.8/10 | AAPL wins |
| Growth trend | -0.14% vs 5y | +0.13% vs 5y | AAPL wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.09 | 1.10 | Tie |
| Scale | $4.3T | $2.8T | AAPL wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | AAPL wins |
Dimension by dimension
MSFT wins on yield (0.92% vs 0.36%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $56 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
AAPL wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 7.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. AAPL scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
AAPL shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
AAPL's yield is 0.14% below its 5y average, versus 0.13% for MSFT. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility (beta) is similar
Both tickers move with comparable sensitivity to the broader market.
AAPL is 1.5× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
Which is better, AAPL or MSFT?
AAPL wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MSFT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does AAPL or MSFT have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $56 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is AAPL or MSFT a safer dividend?
AAPL scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MSFT scores 7.8/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both AAPL and MSFT?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own AAPL or MSFT? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding AAPL to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →