Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
MSFT vs TXN
Microsoft Corporation Common Stock versus Texas Instruments Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
MSFT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but TXN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MSFT wins this comparison 3–2 across 6 dimensions. MSFT yields 0.74% — lower than TXN's 2.17% — and carries a 8.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 7.4/10 for TXN (Solid). MSFT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but TXN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, TXN generates 2.17% vs 0.74% — a 1.43% difference that translates to $1,430 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, MSFT scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 7.4/10 (Solid) for TXN — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | MSFT | TXN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.74% | 2.17% | TXN wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 7.4/10 | MSFT wins |
| Growth trend | -0.05% vs 5y | -0.54% vs 5y | TXN wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.11 | 1.31 | MSFT wins |
| Scale | $3.7T | $236.4B | MSFT wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 2 wins | MSFT wins |
Dimension by dimension
TXN wins on yield (2.17% vs 0.74%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $143 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
TXN's higher yield (2.17%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus MSFT's 0.74% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
MSFT wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 7.4/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. MSFT scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
MSFT (8.3/10) scores 0.9 points higher than TXN (7.4/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
TXN shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
TXN's yield is 0.54% below its 5y average, versus 0.05% for MSFT. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
MSFT is less volatile (beta 1.11 vs 1.31)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
MSFT is 15.5× 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, MSFT or TXN?
MSFT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but TXN can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
MSFT vs TXN: which has a higher dividend yield?
MSFT yields 0.74% and TXN yields 2.17%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $143 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is MSFT or TXN a safer dividend in 2026?
MSFT scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. TXN scores 7.4/10 (Solid). MSFT is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, MSFT or TXN?
TXN's yield is 0.54% below its 5y average, versus 0.05% for MSFT. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
MSFT vs TXN: 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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