Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
COST vs PM
Costco Wholesale Corporation versus Philip Morris International Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
PM wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but COST can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | COST | PM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.56% | 3.24% | PM wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 8.0/10 | COST wins |
| Growth trend | -0.04% vs 5y | -1.38% vs 5y | PM wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.91 | 0.39 | PM wins |
| Scale | $465.4B | $282.9B | COST wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 3 wins | PM wins |
Dimension by dimension
PM wins on yield (3.24% vs 0.56%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $268 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
COST wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 8.0/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. COST scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
PM shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
PM's yield is 1.38% below its 5y average, versus 0.04% for COST. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
PM is less volatile (beta 0.39 vs 0.91)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
COST is 1.6× 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, COST or PM?
PM wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but COST can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does COST or PM have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $268 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is COST or PM a safer dividend?
COST scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. PM scores 8.0/10 (Strong). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both COST and PM?
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 COST or PM? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding PM to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →