Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

AMGN vs JNJ

Amgen Inc. versus Johnson & Johnson — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

JNJ wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but AMGN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	AMGN	JNJ	Winner
Yield	2.68%	2.02%	AMGN wins
Dividend safety	7.5/10	8.0/10	JNJ wins
Growth trend	-0.39% vs 5y	-0.75% vs 5y	JNJ wins
Volatility (beta)	0.40	0.23	JNJ wins
Scale	$203.0B	$616.5B	JNJ wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	1 wins	4 wins	JNJ wins

Dimension by dimension

AMGN wins on yield (2.68% vs 2.02%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $66 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

AMGN's higher yield (2.68%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus JNJ's 2.02% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

AMGN: 2.68%JNJ: 2.02%

JNJ wins on safety (8.0/10 vs 7.5/10)

Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. JNJ scores better on the weighted average of those factors.

JNJ (8.0/10) scores 0.5 points higher than AMGN (7.5/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

AMGN: 7.5/10JNJ: 8.0/10

JNJ shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

JNJ's yield is 0.75% below its 5y average, versus 0.39% for AMGN. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

AMGN: -0.39% vs 5yJNJ: -0.75% vs 5y

JNJ is less volatile (beta 0.23 vs 0.40)

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

AMGN: 0.40JNJ: 0.23

JNJ is 3.0× larger by market cap

Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

AMGN: $203.0BJNJ: $616.5B

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.

AMGN: Qualified-eligibleJNJ: 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, AMGN or JNJ?

JNJ wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but AMGN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

AMGN vs JNJ: which has a higher dividend yield?

AMGN yields 2.68% and JNJ yields 2.02%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $66 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is AMGN or JNJ a safer dividend in 2026?

AMGN scores 7.5/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. JNJ scores 8.0/10 (Strong). JNJ is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, AMGN or JNJ?