Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
CVS vs UNH
CVS Health Corporation versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 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.
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 | +0.61% vs 5y | CVS wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.59 | 0.65 | Tie |
| Scale | $115.8B | $357.7B | 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.
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.
CVS shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CVS's yield is 0.29% below its 5y average, versus 0.61% 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 3.1× 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, 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.
Does CVS or UNH have a higher yield?
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?
CVS scores 6.3/10 (Mixed) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. UNH scores 7.0/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both CVS and UNH?
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 CVS or UNH? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding either to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
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