Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BMY vs PFE
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company versus Pfizer Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BMY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PFE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
BMY or PFE — which is better?
BMY wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. BMY yields 3.90% — lower than PFE's 5.77% — and carries a 8.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 5.3/10 for PFE (Mixed). BMY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PFE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, PFE generates 5.77% vs 3.90% — a 1.87% difference that translates to $1,870 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 5.3/10 (Mixed) for PFE — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BMY | PFE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.90% | 5.77% | PFE wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 5.3/10 | BMY wins |
| Growth trend | -0.06% vs 5y | +0.99% vs 5y | BMY wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.23 | 0.28 | Tie |
| Scale | $131.6B | $169.9B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 1 wins | BMY wins |
Dimension by dimension
PFE wins on yield (5.77% vs 3.90%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $187 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
PFE's higher yield (5.77%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus BMY's 3.90% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
BMY wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 5.3/10)
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 3.0 points higher than PFE (5.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
BMY shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
BMY's yield is 0.06% below its 5y average, versus 0.99% for PFE. 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.
Comparable scale ($131.6B vs $169.9B)
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.
Full breakdown per ticker: are BMY dividends qualified and are PFE dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
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
BMY or PFE — which is better?
BMY is better on our scoring, winning 2–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. BMY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PFE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, BMY or PFE?
BMY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but PFE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
BMY vs PFE: which has a higher dividend yield?
BMY yields 3.90% and PFE yields 5.77%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $187 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BMY or PFE a safer dividend in 2026?
BMY scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. PFE scores 5.3/10 (Mixed). BMY is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, BMY or PFE?
BMY's yield is 0.06% below its 5y average, versus 0.99% for PFE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
BMY vs PFE: 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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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put BMY and PFE into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding BMY diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.