Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

GAIN vs RY

Gladstone Investment Corporation versus Royal Bank of Canada — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

RY wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but GAIN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	GAIN	RY	Winner
Yield	6.17%	2.44%	GAIN wins
Dividend safety	6.3/10	9.0/10	RY wins
Growth trend	-0.44% vs 5y	-1.10% vs 5y	RY wins
Volatility (beta)	0.76	0.93	GAIN wins
Scale	$620M	$290.6B	RY wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	2 wins	3 wins	RY wins

Dimension by dimension

GAIN wins on yield (6.17% vs 2.44%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $373 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 RY's 2.44% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

GAIN: 6.17%RY: 2.44%

RY wins on safety (9.0/10 vs 6.3/10)

Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. RY scores better on the weighted average of those factors.

RY (9.0/10) scores 2.7 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: 6.3/10RY: 9.0/10

RY shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

RY's yield is 1.10% below its 5y average, versus 0.44% for GAIN. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

GAIN: -0.44% vs 5yRY: -1.10% vs 5y

GAIN is less volatile (beta 0.76 vs 0.93)

Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.

GAIN: 0.76RY: 0.93

RY is 468.9× larger by market cap

Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

GAIN: $620MRY: $290.6B

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.

GAIN: Qualified-eligibleRY: Qualified-eligible

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 RY?

RY wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but GAIN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

GAIN vs RY: which has a higher dividend yield?

GAIN yields 6.17% and RY yields 2.44%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $373 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is GAIN or RY a safer dividend in 2026?

GAIN scores 6.3/10 (Mixed) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. RY scores 9.0/10 (Strong). RY is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, GAIN or RY?