Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
RY vs WFC
Royal Bank of Canada versus Wells Fargo & Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
RY wins 1–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but WFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
RY or WFC — which is better?
RY wins this comparison 1–0 across 6 dimensions. RY yields 2.38% — lower than WFC's 2.39% — and carries a 9.0/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 9.0/10 for WFC (Strong). RY wins 1–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but WFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, WFC generates 2.39% vs 2.38% — a 0.01% difference that translates to $10 more per year on a $100,000 investment.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | RY | WFC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.38% | 2.39% | Tie |
| Dividend safety | 9.0/10 | 9.0/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | -1.16% vs 5y | +0.26% vs 5y | RY wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.93 | 0.95 | Tie |
| Scale | $291.1B | $254.6B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 0 wins | RY wins |
Dimension by dimension
RY and WFC have nearly identical yields (2.38% vs 2.39%)
Yields are within 5 basis points — effectively a coin-flip on income.
Safety scores are too close to call (9.0/10 vs 9.0/10)
Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.
RY shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
RY's yield is 1.16% below its 5y average, versus 0.26% for WFC. 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 ($291.1B vs $254.6B)
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 RY dividends qualified and are WFC 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
RY or WFC — which is better?
RY is better on our scoring, winning 1–0 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. RY wins 1–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but WFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, RY or WFC?
RY wins 1–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but WFC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
RY vs WFC: which has a higher dividend yield?
RY yields 2.38% and WFC yields 2.39%. Yields are within 5 basis points — effectively a coin-flip on income.
Is RY or WFC a safer dividend in 2026?
RY scores 9.0/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. WFC scores 9.0/10 (Strong). Both have comparable safety scores.
Which has better dividend growth, RY or WFC?
RY's yield is 1.16% below its 5y average, versus 0.26% for WFC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
RY vs WFC: 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 RY and WFC 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 RY diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.