Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ABT vs CVS
Abbott Laboratories versus CVS Health Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
CVS wins 1–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but ABT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ABT | CVS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.91% | 2.93% | Tie |
| Dividend safety | 6.1/10 | 6.3/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | +1.12% vs 5y | -0.29% vs 5y | CVS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.65 | 0.59 | Tie |
| Scale | $151.0B | $115.8B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 0 wins | 1 wins | CVS wins |
Dimension by dimension
ABT and CVS have nearly identical yields (2.91% vs 2.93%)
Yields are within 5 basis points — effectively a coin-flip on income.
Safety scores are too close to call (6.1/10 vs 6.3/10)
Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.
CVS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 1.12% 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.
Comparable scale ($151.0B vs $115.8B)
Within 1.5x of each other on market cap / AUM — similar institutional footprint.
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, ABT or CVS?
CVS wins 1–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but ABT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does ABT or CVS have a higher yield?
Yields are within 5 basis points — effectively a coin-flip on income.
Is ABT or CVS a safer dividend?
ABT scores 6.1/10 (Mixed) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. CVS scores 6.3/10 (Mixed). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both ABT and CVS?
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 ABT or CVS? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding CVS to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →