Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ABT vs CVS
Abbott Laboratories versus CVS Health Corporation Common Stock — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
ABT and CVS are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither ABT nor CVS wins outright — the two are nearly equivalent across all 6 dimensions, making the choice largely a matter of which account you hold them in and personal preference on yield vs stability. ABT and CVS are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, CVS generates 2.93% vs 2.39% — a 0.54% difference that translates to $540 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, ABT scores 6.8/10 (Solid) vs 6.3/10 (Mixed) for CVS — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ABT | CVS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.39% | 2.93% | CVS wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.8/10 | 6.3/10 | ABT wins |
| Growth trend | +0.57% vs 5y | -0.29% vs 5y | CVS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.59 | 0.59 | Tie |
| Scale | $183.3B | $115.8B | ABT wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
CVS wins on yield (2.93% vs 2.39%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $54 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
CVS's higher yield (2.93%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus ABT's 2.39% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
ABT wins on safety (6.8/10 vs 6.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. ABT scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
ABT (6.8/10) scores 0.5 points higher than CVS (6.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
CVS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.57% for ABT. 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.
ABT is 1.6× 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 for income, ABT or CVS?
ABT and CVS are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
ABT vs CVS: which has a higher dividend yield?
ABT yields 2.39% and CVS yields 2.93%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $54 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is ABT or CVS a safer dividend in 2026?
ABT scores 6.8/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. CVS scores 6.3/10 (Mixed). ABT is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, ABT or CVS?
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.57% for ABT. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
ABT vs CVS: which is more tax-efficient?
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.
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