Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BMY vs GILD
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company versus Gilead Sciences, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BMY and GILD are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither BMY nor GILD wins outright — the two are nearly equivalent across all 6 dimensions, making the choice largely a matter of which account you hold them in and personal preference on yield vs stability. BMY and GILD are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, BMY generates 3.90% vs 2.57% — a 1.33% difference that translates to $1,330 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, GILD scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 8.3/10 (Strong) for BMY — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BMY | GILD | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.90% | 2.57% | BMY wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 8.8/10 | GILD wins |
| Growth trend | -0.06% vs 5y | -1.12% vs 5y | GILD wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.23 | 0.40 | BMY wins |
| Scale | $131.6B | $158.6B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
BMY wins on yield (3.90% vs 2.57%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $133 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 GILD's 2.57% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
GILD wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 8.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. GILD scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
GILD (8.8/10) scores 0.5 points higher than BMY (8.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
GILD shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
GILD's yield is 1.12% 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 0.40)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($131.6B vs $158.6B)
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 GILD?
BMY and GILD are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
BMY vs GILD: which has a higher dividend yield?
BMY yields 3.90% and GILD yields 2.57%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $133 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BMY or GILD a safer dividend in 2026?
BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. GILD scores 8.8/10 (Strong). GILD is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, BMY or GILD?
GILD's yield is 1.12% 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 GILD: 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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