Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

BLK vs C

BlackRock, Inc. versus Citigroup Inc. Common Stock — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

C wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but BLK can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

C wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. C yields 2.04% — lower than BLK's 2.10% — and carries a 9.5/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 8.3/10 for BLK (Strong). C wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but BLK can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

On dividend safety, C scores 9.5/10 (Strong) vs 8.3/10 (Strong) for BLK — C has a stronger composite of payout coverage, yield zone, and dividend trend signals. On yield, BLK's 2.10% vs 2.04% represents a $60 annual income gap on $100,000 invested.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	BLK	C	Winner
Yield	2.10%	2.04%	BLK wins
Dividend safety	8.3/10	9.5/10	C wins
Growth trend	-0.25% vs 5y	-1.38% vs 5y	C wins
Volatility (beta)	1.44	1.10	C wins
Scale	$177.3B	$220.8B	Tie
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	1 wins	3 wins	C wins

Dimension by dimension

BLK wins on yield (2.10% vs 2.04%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $6 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

BLK: 2.10%C: 2.04%

C wins on safety (9.5/10 vs 8.3/10)

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

C (9.5/10) scores 1.2 points higher than BLK (8.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

BLK: 8.3/10C: 9.5/10

C shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

C's yield is 1.38% below its 5y average, versus 0.25% for BLK. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

BLK: -0.25% vs 5yC: -1.38% vs 5y

C is less volatile (beta 1.10 vs 1.44)

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

BLK: 1.44C: 1.10

Comparable scale ($177.3B vs $220.8B)

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

BLK: $177.3BC: $220.8B

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.

BLK: Qualified-eligibleC: 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, BLK or C?

C wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but BLK can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

BLK vs C: which has a higher dividend yield?

BLK yields 2.10% and C yields 2.04%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $6 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is BLK or C a safer dividend in 2026?

BLK scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. C scores 9.5/10 (Strong). C is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, BLK or C?