Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
MDT vs PFE
Medtronic plc versus Pfizer Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
MDT and PFE are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | MDT | PFE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.42% | 6.61% | PFE wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.8/10 | 4.3/10 | MDT wins |
| Growth trend | +0.48% vs 5y | +1.56% vs 5y | MDT wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.76 | 0.29 | PFE wins |
| Scale | $106.5B | $147.7B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
PFE wins on yield (6.61% vs 3.42%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $319 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
MDT wins on safety (6.8/10 vs 4.3/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. MDT scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
MDT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
MDT's yield is 0.48% above its 5y average, versus 1.56% for PFE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
PFE is less volatile (beta 0.29 vs 0.76)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($106.5B vs $147.7B)
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, MDT or PFE?
MDT and PFE are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Does MDT or PFE have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $319 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is MDT or PFE a safer dividend?
MDT scores 6.8/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. PFE scores 4.3/10 (Weak). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both MDT and PFE?
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 MDT or PFE? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding either to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →