Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
LLY vs UNH
Eli Lilly and Company versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
LLY wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UNH can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
LLY wins this comparison 4–1 across 6 dimensions. LLY yields 0.62% — lower than UNH's 2.24% — and carries a 8.8/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 7.0/10 for UNH (Solid). LLY 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 yield alone, UNH generates 2.24% vs 0.62% — a 1.62% difference that translates to $1,620 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, LLY scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 7.0/10 (Solid) for UNH — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | LLY | UNH | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.62% | 2.24% | UNH wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 7.0/10 | LLY wins |
| Growth trend | -0.27% vs 5y | +0.59% vs 5y | LLY wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.50 | 0.63 | LLY wins |
| Scale | $1.0T | $376.3B | LLY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 4 wins | 1 wins | LLY wins |
Dimension by dimension
UNH wins on yield (2.24% vs 0.62%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $162 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 LLY's 0.62% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
LLY wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 7.0/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. LLY scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
LLY (8.8/10) scores 1.8 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.
LLY shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
LLY's yield is 0.27% below its 5y average, versus 0.59% for UNH. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
LLY is less volatile (beta 0.50 vs 0.63)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
LLY is 2.7× 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, LLY or UNH?
LLY wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UNH can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
LLY vs UNH: which has a higher dividend yield?
LLY yields 0.62% and UNH yields 2.24%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $162 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is LLY or UNH a safer dividend in 2026?
LLY scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. UNH scores 7.0/10 (Solid). LLY is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, LLY or UNH?
LLY's yield is 0.27% below its 5y average, versus 0.59% for UNH. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
LLY 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.
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