Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
BTI vs PM
British American Tobacco p.l.c. ADR versus Philip Morris International Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BTI and PM are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither BTI nor PM 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 PM 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 3.24% — a 2.70% difference that translates to $2,700 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, PM 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 | PM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 5.94% | 3.24% | BTI wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.3/10 | 8.0/10 | PM wins |
| Growth trend | -1.46% vs 5y | -1.38% vs 5y | Tie |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.13 | 0.39 | BTI wins |
| Scale | $121.1B | $282.9B | PM wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
BTI wins on yield (5.94% vs 3.24%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $270 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 PM's 3.24% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
PM 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. PM scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
PM (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.
Yield trends are similar
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
BTI is less volatile (beta 0.13 vs 0.39)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
PM is 2.3× 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.
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, BTI or PM?
BTI and PM are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
BTI vs PM: which has a higher dividend yield?
BTI yields 5.94% and PM yields 3.24%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $270 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is BTI or PM a safer dividend in 2026?
BTI scores 7.3/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. PM scores 8.0/10 (Strong). PM is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, BTI or PM?
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
BTI vs PM: 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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