Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
JNJ vs UNH
Johnson & Johnson versus UnitedHealth Group Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
JNJ wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UNH can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
JNJ or UNH — which is better?
JNJ wins this comparison 4–1 across 6 dimensions. JNJ yields 2.03% — lower than UNH's 2.24% — and carries a 8.0/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 7.0/10 for UNH (Solid). JNJ wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UNH can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On dividend safety, JNJ scores 8.0/10 (Strong) vs 7.0/10 (Solid) for UNH — JNJ has a stronger composite of payout coverage, yield zone, and dividend trend signals. On yield, UNH's 2.24% vs 2.03% represents a $210 annual income gap on $100,000 invested.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | JNJ | UNH | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.03% | 2.24% | UNH wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.0/10 | 7.0/10 | JNJ wins |
| Growth trend | -0.65% vs 5y | +0.59% vs 5y | JNJ wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.21 | 0.63 | JNJ wins |
| Scale | $635.6B | $376.3B | JNJ wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 4 wins | 1 wins | JNJ wins |
Dimension by dimension
UNH wins on yield (2.24% vs 2.03%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $21 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
UNH's higher yield (2.24%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus JNJ's 2.03% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
JNJ wins on safety (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. JNJ scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
JNJ (8.0/10) scores 1.0 points higher than UNH (7.0/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
JNJ shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
JNJ's yield is 0.65% below its 5y average, versus 0.59% for UNH. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
JNJ is less volatile (beta 0.21 vs 0.63)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
JNJ is 1.7× 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.
Full breakdown per ticker: are JNJ dividends qualified and are UNH dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
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
JNJ or UNH — which is better?
JNJ is better on our scoring, winning 4–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. JNJ wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UNH can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, JNJ or UNH?
JNJ wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UNH can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
JNJ vs UNH: which has a higher dividend yield?
JNJ yields 2.03% and UNH yields 2.24%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $21 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is JNJ or UNH a safer dividend in 2026?
JNJ scores 8.0/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. UNH scores 7.0/10 (Solid). JNJ is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, JNJ or UNH?
JNJ's yield is 0.65% below its 5y average, versus 0.59% for UNH. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
JNJ vs UNH: 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.
Get emailed when JNJ vs UNH data updates.
Compare both against your actual holdings
Put JNJ and UNH into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding JNJ diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.