Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BMY vs CVS
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company versus CVS Health Corporation Common Stock — 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.
BMY wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. BMY yields 3.90% — higher than CVS's 2.93% — and carries a 8.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 6.3/10 for CVS (Mixed). 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.
On dividend safety, BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 6.3/10 (Mixed) for CVS — BMY has a stronger composite of payout coverage, yield zone, and dividend trend signals. On yield, BMY's 3.90% vs 2.93% represents a $970 annual income gap on $100,000 invested.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BMY | CVS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.90% | 2.93% | BMY wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 6.3/10 | BMY wins |
| Growth trend | -0.06% vs 5y | -0.29% vs 5y | CVS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.23 | 0.59 | BMY wins |
| Scale | $131.6B | $115.8B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | BMY wins |
Dimension by dimension
BMY wins on yield (3.90% vs 2.93%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $97 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
BMY's higher yield (3.90%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus CVS's 2.93% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
BMY wins on safety (8.3/10 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.
BMY (8.3/10) scores 2.0 points higher than CVS (6.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
CVS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.06% for BMY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
BMY is less volatile (beta 0.23 vs 0.59)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($131.6B 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 for income, 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.
BMY vs CVS: which has a higher dividend yield?
BMY yields 3.90% and CVS yields 2.93%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $97 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BMY or CVS a safer dividend in 2026?
BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. CVS scores 6.3/10 (Mixed). BMY is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, BMY or CVS?
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.06% for BMY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
BMY vs CVS: 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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