Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

BMY vs JNJ

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company versus Johnson & Johnson — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

BMY and JNJ are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.

Neither BMY nor JNJ 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 JNJ are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.

On yield alone, BMY generates 3.86% vs 2.00% — a 1.86% difference that translates to $1,860 more per year on a $100,000 investment.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	BMY	JNJ	Winner
Yield	3.86%	2.00%	BMY wins
Dividend safety	8.3/10	8.0/10	BMY wins
Growth trend	-0.10% vs 5y	-0.77% vs 5y	JNJ wins
Volatility (beta)	0.23	0.23	Tie
Scale	$133.4B	$640.7B	JNJ wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	2 wins	2 wins	Tie

Dimension by dimension

BMY wins on yield (3.86% vs 2.00%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $186 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

BMY's higher yield (3.86%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus JNJ's 2.00% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

BMY: 3.86%JNJ: 2.00%

BMY wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 8.0/10)

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: 8.3/10JNJ: 8.0/10

JNJ shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

JNJ's yield is 0.77% below its 5y average, versus 0.10% for BMY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

BMY: -0.10% vs 5yJNJ: -0.77% vs 5y

Volatility (beta) is similar

Both tickers move with comparable sensitivity to the broader market.

BMY: 0.23JNJ: 0.23

JNJ is 4.8× larger by market cap

Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

BMY: $133.4BJNJ: $640.7B

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.

BMY: Qualified-eligibleJNJ: 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, BMY or JNJ?

BMY and JNJ are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.

BMY vs JNJ: which has a higher dividend yield?

BMY yields 3.86% and JNJ yields 2.00%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $186 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is BMY or JNJ a safer dividend in 2026?

BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. JNJ scores 8.0/10 (Strong). BMY is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, BMY or JNJ?