Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
C vs RY
Citigroup Inc. versus Royal Bank of Canada — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
C and RY are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither C nor RY 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. C and RY are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, RY generates 2.38% vs 2.04% — a 0.34% difference that translates to $340 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, C scores 9.5/10 (Strong) vs 9.0/10 (Strong) for RY — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | C | RY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.04% | 2.38% | RY wins |
| Dividend safety | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 | C wins |
| Growth trend | -1.38% vs 5y | -1.16% vs 5y | C wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.10 | 0.93 | RY wins |
| Scale | $220.8B | $291.1B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
RY wins on yield (2.38% vs 2.04%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $34 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
RY's higher yield (2.38%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus C's 2.04% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
C wins on safety (9.5/10 vs 9.0/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. C scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
C (9.5/10) scores 0.5 points higher than RY (9.0/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
C shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
C's yield is 1.38% below its 5y average, versus 1.16% for RY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
RY is less volatile (beta 0.93 vs 1.10)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($220.8B vs $291.1B)
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 for income, C or RY?
C and RY are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
C vs RY: which has a higher dividend yield?
C yields 2.04% and RY yields 2.38%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $34 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is C or RY a safer dividend in 2026?
C scores 9.5/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. RY scores 9.0/10 (Strong). C is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, C or RY?
C's yield is 1.38% below its 5y average, versus 1.16% for RY. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
C vs RY: 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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