Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
CVS vs UNH
CVS Health Corporation Common Stock versus UnitedHealth Group Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
CVS and UNH are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Neither CVS nor UNH 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. CVS and UNH are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
On yield alone, CVS generates 2.93% vs 2.24% — a 0.69% difference that translates to $690 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, UNH scores 7.0/10 (Solid) vs 6.3/10 (Mixed) for CVS — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | CVS | UNH | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.93% | 2.24% | CVS wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.3/10 | 7.0/10 | UNH wins |
| Growth trend | -0.29% vs 5y | +0.59% vs 5y | CVS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.59 | 0.63 | Tie |
| Scale | $115.8B | $376.3B | UNH wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
CVS wins on yield (2.93% vs 2.24%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $69 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
CVS's higher yield (2.93%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus UNH's 2.24% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
UNH wins on safety (7.0/10 vs 6.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. UNH scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
UNH (7.0/10) scores 0.7 points higher than CVS (6.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
CVS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.59% for UNH. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility (beta) is similar
Both tickers move with comparable sensitivity to the broader market.
UNH is 3.3× 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 for income, CVS or UNH?
CVS and UNH are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
CVS vs UNH: which has a higher dividend yield?
CVS yields 2.93% and UNH yields 2.24%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $69 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is CVS or UNH a safer dividend in 2026?
CVS scores 6.3/10 (Mixed) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. UNH scores 7.0/10 (Solid). UNH is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, CVS or UNH?
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.59% for UNH. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
CVS vs UNH: 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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