Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BTI vs MO
British American Tobacco p.l.c. ADR versus Altria Group, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BTI wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MO can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | BTI | MO | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 5.14% | 5.98% | MO wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.3/10 | 6.5/10 | BTI wins |
| Growth trend | -2.37% vs 5y | — | Tie |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.12 | 0.50 | BTI wins |
| Scale | $140.4B | $115.1B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 1 wins | BTI wins |
Dimension by dimension
MO wins on yield (5.98% vs 5.14%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $84 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
BTI wins on safety (7.3/10 vs 6.5/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. BTI scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
BTI is less volatile (beta 0.12 vs 0.50)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($140.4B vs $115.1B)
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.
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, BTI or MO?
BTI wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MO can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does BTI or MO have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $84 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BTI or MO a safer dividend?
BTI scores 7.3/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MO scores 6.5/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both BTI and MO?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own BTI or MO? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding BTI to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →