Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BLK vs WFC
BlackRock, Inc. versus Wells Fargo & Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
WFC wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but BLK can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BLK | WFC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.13% | 2.23% | WFC wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 9.0/10 | WFC wins |
| Growth trend | -0.20% vs 5y | +0.12% vs 5y | BLK wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.46 | 1.06 | WFC wins |
| Scale | $167.2B | $246.9B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 3 wins | WFC wins |
Dimension by dimension
WFC wins on yield (2.23% vs 2.13%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $10 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
WFC wins on safety (9.0/10 vs 8.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. WFC scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
BLK shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
BLK's yield is 0.20% below its 5y average, versus 0.12% for WFC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
WFC is less volatile (beta 1.06 vs 1.46)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($167.2B vs $246.9B)
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, BLK or WFC?
WFC wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but BLK can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does BLK or WFC have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $10 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BLK or WFC a safer dividend?
BLK scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. WFC scores 9.0/10 (Strong). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both BLK and WFC?
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 BLK or WFC? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding WFC to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →