Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
CAT vs RTX
Caterpillar Inc. versus RTX Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
CAT and RTX are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither CAT nor RTX 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. CAT and RTX are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, RTX generates 1.39% vs 0.81% — a 0.58% difference that translates to $580 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, CAT scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 8.3/10 (Strong) for RTX — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | CAT | RTX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.81% | 1.39% | RTX wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 8.3/10 | CAT wins |
| Growth trend | -0.91% vs 5y | -0.71% vs 5y | CAT wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.60 | 0.29 | RTX wins |
| Scale | $367.9B | $282.9B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
RTX wins on yield (1.39% vs 0.81%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $58 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
RTX's higher yield (1.39%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus CAT's 0.81% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
CAT wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 8.3/10)
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 0.5 points higher than RTX (8.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
CAT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CAT's yield is 0.91% below its 5y average, versus 0.71% for RTX. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
RTX is less volatile (beta 0.29 vs 1.60)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($367.9B vs $282.9B)
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, CAT or RTX?
CAT and RTX are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
CAT vs RTX: which has a higher dividend yield?
CAT yields 0.81% and RTX yields 1.39%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $58 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is CAT or RTX a safer dividend in 2026?
CAT scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. RTX scores 8.3/10 (Strong). CAT is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, CAT or RTX?
CAT's yield is 0.91% below its 5y average, versus 0.71% for RTX. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
CAT vs RTX: 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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