Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

BNS vs PFLT

Bank of Nova Scotia versus PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

BNS wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but PFLT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	BNS	PFLT	Winner
Yield	3.69%	16.36%	PFLT wins
Dividend safety	7.8/10	1.9/10	BNS wins
Growth trend	-1.83% vs 5y	+5.44% vs 5y	BNS wins
Volatility (beta)	1.21	0.74	PFLT wins
Scale	$106.3B	$734M	BNS wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	3 wins	2 wins	BNS wins

Dimension by dimension

PFLT wins on yield (16.36% vs 3.69%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $1267 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

PFLT's higher yield (16.36%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus BNS's 3.69% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

BNS: 3.69%PFLT: 16.36%

BNS wins on safety (7.8/10 vs 1.9/10)

Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. BNS scores better on the weighted average of those factors.

BNS (7.8/10) scores 5.9 points higher than PFLT (1.9/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

BNS: 7.8/10PFLT: 1.9/10

BNS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

BNS's yield is 1.83% below its 5y average, versus 5.44% for PFLT. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

BNS: -1.83% vs 5yPFLT: +5.44% vs 5y

PFLT is less volatile (beta 0.74 vs 1.21)

Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.

BNS: 1.21PFLT: 0.74

BNS is 144.7× larger by market cap

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

BNS: $106.3BPFLT: $734M

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.

BNS: Qualified-eligiblePFLT: 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, BNS or PFLT?

BNS wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but PFLT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

BNS vs PFLT: which has a higher dividend yield?

BNS yields 3.69% and PFLT yields 16.36%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $1267 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is BNS or PFLT a safer dividend in 2026?

BNS scores 7.8/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. PFLT scores 1.9/10 (Risky). BNS is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, BNS or PFLT?