Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
APD vs DOW
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. versus Dow Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
DOW wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but APD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
DOW wins this comparison 3–2 across 6 dimensions. DOW yields 4.76% — higher than APD's 2.48% — and carries a 6.0/10 dividend safety score (Mixed) vs 6.7/10 for APD (Solid). DOW wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but APD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, DOW generates 4.76% vs 2.48% — a 2.28% difference that translates to $2,280 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, APD scores 6.7/10 (Solid) vs 6.0/10 (Mixed) for DOW — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | APD | DOW | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.48% | 4.76% | DOW wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.7/10 | 6.0/10 | APD wins |
| Growth trend | +0.08% vs 5y | -1.26% vs 5y | DOW wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.86 | 0.42 | DOW wins |
| Scale | $64.9B | $21.3B | APD wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 3 wins | DOW wins |
Dimension by dimension
DOW wins on yield (4.76% vs 2.48%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $228 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
DOW's higher yield (4.76%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus APD's 2.48% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
APD wins on safety (6.7/10 vs 6.0/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. APD scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
APD (6.7/10) scores 0.7 points higher than DOW (6.0/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
DOW shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
DOW's yield is 1.26% below its 5y average, versus 0.08% for APD. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
DOW is less volatile (beta 0.42 vs 0.86)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
APD is 3.1× 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, APD or DOW?
DOW wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but APD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
APD vs DOW: which has a higher dividend yield?
APD yields 2.48% and DOW yields 4.76%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $228 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is APD or DOW a safer dividend in 2026?
APD scores 6.7/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. DOW scores 6.0/10 (Mixed). APD is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, APD or DOW?
DOW's yield is 1.26% below its 5y average, versus 0.08% for APD. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
APD vs DOW: 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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