Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BTI vs KO
British American Tobacco plc ADR versus The Coca-Cola Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BTI and KO are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
BTI or KO — which is better?
Neither BTI nor KO 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. BTI and KO are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, BTI generates 5.94% vs 2.29% — a 3.65% difference that translates to $3,650 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, KO scores 8.0/10 (Strong) vs 7.3/10 (Solid) for BTI — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BTI | KO | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 5.94% | 2.29% | BTI wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.3/10 | 8.0/10 | KO wins |
| Growth trend | -1.46% vs 5y | -0.54% vs 5y | BTI wins |
| Volatility (beta) | — | — | Tie |
| Scale | $121.1B | $394.6B | KO wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
BTI wins on yield (5.94% vs 2.29%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $365 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
BTI's higher yield (5.94%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus KO's 2.29% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
KO wins on safety (8.0/10 vs 7.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. KO scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
KO (8.0/10) scores 0.7 points higher than BTI (7.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
BTI shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
BTI's yield is 1.46% below its 5y average, versus 0.54% for KO. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility comparison unavailable
Beta data missing for one or both tickers.
KO is 3.3× 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.
Full breakdown per ticker: are BTI dividends qualified and are KO 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
BTI or KO — which is better?
Neither — BTI and KO tie 2–2 across the six dimensions we score. BTI and KO are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Which is better for income, BTI or KO?
BTI and KO are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
BTI vs KO: which has a higher dividend yield?
BTI yields 5.94% and KO yields 2.29%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $365 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BTI or KO a safer dividend in 2026?
BTI scores 7.3/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. KO scores 8.0/10 (Strong). KO is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, BTI or KO?
BTI's yield is 1.46% below its 5y average, versus 0.54% for KO. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
BTI vs KO: 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 BTI and KO 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 either diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.