Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
GD vs MMM
General Dynamics Corp. versus 3M Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
GD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MMM can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
GD or MMM — which is better?
GD wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. GD yields 1.68% — higher than MMM's 1.61% — and carries a 9.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 8.8/10 for MMM (Strong). GD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MMM can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On dividend safety, GD scores 9.3/10 (Strong) vs 8.8/10 (Strong) for MMM — GD has a stronger composite of payout coverage, yield zone, and dividend trend signals. On yield, GD's 1.68% vs 1.61% represents a $70 annual income gap on $100,000 invested.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | GD | MMM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.68% | 1.61% | GD wins |
| Dividend safety | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 | GD wins |
| Growth trend | -0.35% vs 5y | -1.41% vs 5y | MMM wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.33 | 1.06 | GD wins |
| Scale | $102.6B | $96.8B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | GD wins |
Dimension by dimension
GD wins on yield (1.68% vs 1.61%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $7 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
GD wins on safety (9.3/10 vs 8.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. GD scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
GD (9.3/10) scores 0.5 points higher than MMM (8.8/10). 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 1.41% below its 5y average, versus 0.35% for GD. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
GD is less volatile (beta 0.33 vs 1.06)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($102.6B vs $96.8B)
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 GD dividends qualified and are MMM 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
GD or MMM — which is better?
GD is better on our scoring, winning 3–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. GD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MMM can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, GD or MMM?
GD wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but MMM can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
GD vs MMM: which has a higher dividend yield?
GD yields 1.68% and MMM yields 1.61%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $7 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is GD or MMM a safer dividend in 2026?
GD scores 9.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MMM scores 8.8/10 (Strong). GD is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, GD or MMM?
MMM's yield is 1.41% below its 5y average, versus 0.35% for GD. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
GD vs MMM: 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 GD and MMM 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 GD diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.