Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
NLY vs STAG
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. versus STAG Industrial, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
NLY wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but STAG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
NLY or STAG — which is better?
NLY wins this comparison 3–2 across 6 dimensions. NLY yields 12.92% — higher than STAG's 4.25% — and carries a 4.2/10 dividend safety score (Weak) vs 5.2/10 for STAG (Mixed). NLY wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but STAG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, NLY generates 12.92% vs 4.25% — a 8.67% difference that translates to $8,670 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, STAG scores 5.2/10 (Mixed) vs 4.2/10 (Weak) for NLY — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | NLY | STAG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 12.92% | 4.25% | NLY wins |
| Dividend safety | 4.2/10 | 5.2/10 | STAG wins |
| Growth trend | -0.72% vs 5y | +0.24% vs 5y | NLY wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.27 | 0.96 | STAG wins |
| Scale | $15.9B | $7.2B | NLY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Ordinary income | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 2 wins | NLY wins |
Dimension by dimension
NLY wins on yield (12.92% vs 4.25%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $867 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
NLY's higher yield (12.92%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus STAG's 4.25% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
STAG wins on safety (5.2/10 vs 4.2/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. STAG scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
STAG (5.2/10) scores 1.0 points higher than NLY (4.2/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
NLY shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
NLY's yield is 0.72% below its 5y average, versus 0.24% for STAG. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
STAG is less volatile (beta 0.96 vs 1.27)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
NLY is 2.2× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both have similar tax-treatment concerns
Both pay primarily ordinary-income distributions (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT). Hold in a tax-advantaged account for the cleanest treatment.
Full breakdown per ticker: are NLY dividends qualified and are STAG 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
NLY or STAG — which is better?
NLY is better on our scoring, winning 3–2 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. NLY wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but STAG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, NLY or STAG?
NLY wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but STAG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
NLY vs STAG: which has a higher dividend yield?
NLY yields 12.92% and STAG yields 4.25%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $867 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is NLY or STAG a safer dividend in 2026?
NLY scores 4.2/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. STAG scores 5.2/10 (Mixed). STAG is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, NLY or STAG?
NLY's yield is 0.72% below its 5y average, versus 0.24% for STAG. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
NLY vs STAG: which is more tax-efficient?
Both pay primarily ordinary-income distributions (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT). Hold in a tax-advantaged account for the cleanest treatment.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put NLY and STAG 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 NLY diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.