Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

CAT vs GE

Caterpillar Inc. versus General Electric Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

CAT wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but GE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	CAT	GE	Winner
Yield	0.81%	0.53%	CAT wins
Dividend safety	8.8/10	7.8/10	CAT wins
Growth trend	-0.91% vs 5y	+0.13% vs 5y	CAT wins
Volatility (beta)	1.56	1.35	GE wins
Scale	$375.3B	$367.0B	Tie
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	3 wins	1 wins	CAT wins

Dimension by dimension

CAT wins on yield (0.81% vs 0.53%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $28 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

CAT's higher yield (0.81%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus GE's 0.53% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

CAT: 0.81%GE: 0.53%

CAT wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 7.8/10)

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

CAT (8.8/10) scores 1.0 points higher than GE (7.8/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

CAT: 8.8/10GE: 7.8/10

CAT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

CAT's yield is 0.91% below its 5y average, versus 0.13% for GE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

CAT: -0.91% vs 5yGE: +0.13% vs 5y

GE is less volatile (beta 1.35 vs 1.56)

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

CAT: 1.56GE: 1.35

Comparable scale ($375.3B vs $367.0B)

Within 1.5x of each other on market cap / AUM — similar institutional footprint.

CAT: $375.3BGE: $367.0B

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.

CAT: Qualified-eligibleGE: 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, CAT or GE?

CAT wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but GE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

CAT vs GE: which has a higher dividend yield?

CAT yields 0.81% and GE yields 0.53%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $28 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is CAT or GE a safer dividend in 2026?

CAT scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. GE scores 7.8/10 (Solid). CAT is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, CAT or GE?