Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BMY vs CVS
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company versus CVS Health Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BMY wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but CVS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BMY | CVS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 4.36% | 2.93% | BMY wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.8/10 | 6.3/10 | BMY wins |
| Growth trend | +0.44% vs 5y | -0.29% vs 5y | CVS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.27 | 0.59 | BMY wins |
| Scale | $118.0B | $115.8B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | BMY wins |
Dimension by dimension
BMY wins on yield (4.36% vs 2.93%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $143 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
BMY wins on safety (6.8/10 vs 6.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. BMY scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
CVS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.44% for BMY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
BMY is less volatile (beta 0.27 vs 0.59)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($118.0B vs $115.8B)
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, BMY or CVS?
BMY wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but CVS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does BMY or CVS have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $143 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BMY or CVS a safer dividend?
BMY scores 6.8/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. CVS scores 6.3/10 (Mixed). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both BMY and CVS?
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 BMY or CVS? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding BMY to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →