Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
MMM vs UPS
3M Company versus United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B Common Stock — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
MMM wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MMM or UPS — which is better?
MMM wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. MMM yields 1.81% — lower than UPS's 6.53% — and carries a 8.8/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 3.6/10 for UPS (Weak). MMM wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, UPS generates 6.53% vs 1.81% — a 4.72% difference that translates to $4,720 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, MMM scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 3.6/10 (Weak) for UPS — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | MMM | UPS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.81% | 6.53% | UPS wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 3.6/10 | MMM wins |
| Growth trend | -1.22% vs 5y | +2.19% vs 5y | MMM wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.06 | 1.04 | Tie |
| Scale | $91.5B | $84.4B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 1 wins | MMM wins |
Dimension by dimension
UPS wins on yield (6.53% vs 1.81%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $472 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
UPS's higher yield (6.53%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus MMM's 1.81% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
MMM wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 3.6/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. MMM scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
MMM (8.8/10) scores 5.2 points higher than UPS (3.6/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
MMM shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
MMM's yield is 1.22% below its 5y average, versus 2.19% for UPS. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility (beta) is similar
Both tickers move with comparable sensitivity to the broader market.
Comparable scale ($91.5B vs $84.4B)
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.
Full breakdown per ticker: are MMM dividends qualified and are UPS 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
MMM or UPS — which is better?
MMM is better on our scoring, winning 2–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. MMM wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, MMM or UPS?
MMM wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MMM vs UPS: which has a higher dividend yield?
MMM yields 1.81% and UPS yields 6.53%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $472 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is MMM or UPS a safer dividend in 2026?
MMM scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. UPS scores 3.6/10 (Weak). MMM is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, MMM or UPS?
MMM's yield is 1.22% below its 5y average, versus 2.19% for UPS. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
MMM vs UPS: 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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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put MMM and UPS 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 MMM diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.