Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
GAIN vs MET
Gladstone Investment Corporation versus MetLife Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
GAIN and MET are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | GAIN | MET | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 6.17% | 2.92% | GAIN wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.3/10 | 8.3/10 | MET wins |
| Growth trend | -0.44% vs 5y | -0.03% vs 5y | GAIN wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.76 | 0.73 | Tie |
| Scale | $620M | $50.6B | MET wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
GAIN wins on yield (6.17% vs 2.92%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $325 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
GAIN's higher yield (6.17%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus MET's 2.92% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
MET wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 6.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. MET scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
MET (8.3/10) scores 2.0 points higher than GAIN (6.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
GAIN shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
GAIN's yield is 0.44% below its 5y average, versus 0.03% for MET. 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.
MET is 81.7× 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, GAIN or MET?
GAIN and MET are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
GAIN vs MET: which has a higher dividend yield?
GAIN yields 6.17% and MET yields 2.92%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $325 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is GAIN or MET a safer dividend in 2026?
GAIN scores 6.3/10 (Mixed) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MET scores 8.3/10 (Strong). MET is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, GAIN or MET?
GAIN's yield is 0.44% below its 5y average, versus 0.03% for MET. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
GAIN vs MET: 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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