Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BMY vs MRK
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company versus Merck & Co., Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BMY and MRK are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither BMY nor MRK 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 MRK 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 2.23% — a 1.67% difference that translates to $1,670 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 7.0/10 (Solid) for MRK — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BMY | MRK | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.90% | 2.23% | BMY wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 7.0/10 | BMY wins |
| Growth trend | -0.06% vs 5y | -0.78% vs 5y | MRK wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.23 | 0.21 | Tie |
| Scale | $131.6B | $376.4B | MRK wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
BMY wins on yield (3.90% vs 2.23%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $167 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 MRK's 2.23% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
BMY wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 7.0/10)
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 (8.3/10) scores 1.3 points higher than MRK (7.0/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
MRK shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
MRK's yield is 0.78% below its 5y average, versus 0.06% for BMY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility (beta) is similar
Both tickers move with comparable sensitivity to the broader market.
MRK is 2.9× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
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 MRK?
BMY and MRK are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
BMY vs MRK: which has a higher dividend yield?
BMY yields 3.90% and MRK yields 2.23%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $167 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BMY or MRK a safer dividend in 2026?
BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MRK scores 7.0/10 (Solid). BMY is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, BMY or MRK?
MRK's yield is 0.78% 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 MRK: 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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