Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
CSCO vs MSFT
Cisco Systems, Inc. versus Microsoft Corp. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
CSCO wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MSFT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | CSCO | MSFT | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.40% | 0.92% | CSCO wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 | CSCO wins |
| Growth trend | -1.39% vs 5y | +0.13% vs 5y | CSCO wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.91 | 1.10 | CSCO wins |
| Scale | $474.6B | $2.8T | MSFT wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 4 wins | 1 wins | CSCO wins |
Dimension by dimension
CSCO wins on yield (1.40% vs 0.92%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $48 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
CSCO wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 7.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. CSCO scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
CSCO shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CSCO's yield is 1.39% below its 5y average, versus 0.13% for MSFT. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
CSCO is less volatile (beta 0.91 vs 1.10)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
MSFT is 5.9× 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, CSCO or MSFT?
CSCO wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MSFT can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does CSCO or MSFT have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $48 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is CSCO or MSFT a safer dividend?
CSCO scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MSFT scores 7.8/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both CSCO and MSFT?
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 CSCO or MSFT? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding CSCO to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →