Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
DOW vs STLD
Dow Inc. versus Steel Dynamics Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
DOW wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but STLD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DOW | STLD | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 4.25% | 1.13% | DOW wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.0/10 | 8.3/10 | STLD wins |
| Growth trend | -1.77% vs 5y | -0.30% vs 5y | DOW wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.41 | 1.40 | DOW wins |
| Scale | $23.4B | $26.1B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | DOW wins |
Dimension by dimension
DOW wins on yield (4.25% vs 1.13%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $312 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
STLD wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 6.0/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. STLD scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
DOW shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
DOW's yield is 1.77% below its 5y average, versus 0.30% for STLD. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
DOW is less volatile (beta 0.41 vs 1.40)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($23.4B vs $26.1B)
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, DOW or STLD?
DOW wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but STLD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does DOW or STLD have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $312 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DOW or STLD a safer dividend?
DOW scores 6.0/10 (Mixed) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. STLD scores 8.3/10 (Strong). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both DOW and STLD?
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 DOW or STLD? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding DOW to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →