Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
IBM vs TXN
International Business Machines Corporation versus Texas Instruments Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
IBM wins 4–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but TXN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | IBM | TXN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.27% | 1.75% | IBM wins |
| Dividend safety | 9.0/10 | 7.4/10 | IBM wins |
| Growth trend | -1.64% vs 5y | -0.97% vs 5y | IBM wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.58 | 1.30 | IBM wins |
| Scale | $279.9B | $295.7B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 4 wins | 0 wins | IBM wins |
Dimension by dimension
IBM wins on yield (2.27% vs 1.75%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $52 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
IBM wins on safety (9.0/10 vs 7.4/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. IBM scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
IBM shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
IBM's yield is 1.64% below its 5y average, versus 0.97% for TXN. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
IBM is less volatile (beta 0.58 vs 1.30)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($279.9B vs $295.7B)
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, IBM or TXN?
IBM wins 4–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but TXN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does IBM or TXN have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $52 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is IBM or TXN a safer dividend?
IBM scores 9.0/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. TXN scores 7.4/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both IBM and TXN?
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 IBM or TXN? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding IBM to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →