Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

ABT vs DHR

Abbott Laboratories versus Danaher Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

ABT wins 2–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but DHR can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

ABT wins this comparison 2–0 across 6 dimensions. ABT yields 2.39% — higher than DHR's 0.88% — and carries a 6.8/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 6.9/10 for DHR (Solid). ABT wins 2–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but DHR can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

On yield alone, ABT generates 2.39% vs 0.88% — a 1.51% difference that translates to $1,510 more per year on a $100,000 investment.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	ABT	DHR	Winner
Yield	2.39%	0.88%	ABT wins
Dividend safety	6.8/10	6.9/10	Tie
Growth trend	+0.57% vs 5y	+0.46% vs 5y	Tie
Volatility (beta)	0.59	0.96	ABT wins
Scale	$183.3B	$130.1B	Tie
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	2 wins	0 wins	ABT wins

Dimension by dimension

ABT wins on yield (2.39% vs 0.88%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $151 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

ABT's higher yield (2.39%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus DHR's 0.88% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

ABT: 2.39%DHR: 0.88%

Safety scores are too close to call (6.8/10 vs 6.9/10)

Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.

ABT: 6.8/10DHR: 6.9/10

Yield trends are similar

Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.

ABT: +0.57% vs 5yDHR: +0.46% vs 5y

ABT is less volatile (beta 0.59 vs 0.96)

Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.

ABT: 0.59DHR: 0.96

Comparable scale ($183.3B vs $130.1B)

Within 1.5x of each other on market cap / AUM — similar institutional footprint.

ABT: $183.3BDHR: $130.1B

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.

ABT: Qualified-eligibleDHR: Qualified-eligible

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 DHR?

ABT wins 2–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but DHR can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

ABT vs DHR: which has a higher dividend yield?

ABT yields 2.39% and DHR yields 0.88%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $151 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is ABT or DHR a safer dividend in 2026?

ABT scores 6.8/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. DHR scores 6.9/10 (Solid). DHR is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, ABT or DHR?