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ABT vs. BAX: Abbott Laboratories vs. Baxter Stock Comparison

How do Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX) are both classified in the Health Care Equipment sub-industry within the broader Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
Profile ItemABTBAX
NameAbbott LaboratoriesBaxter International Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Equipment & SuppliesHealth Care Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care EquipmentHealth Care Equipment
Market Capitalization190.39 billion USD13.34 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 27, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ABT
BAX
GSPC
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
Total Return (1Y)-10.78%45.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.79%-5.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-0.79%-17.96%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ABT
BAX
GSPC
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.48%42.31%
Beta (5Y)0.530.62
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.64%-80.61%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.74M6.53M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ABT and BAX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.530.98
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.761.42

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports a negative ROE of -9.04%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reports 9.14%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.14%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
ABT
9.14%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-9.04%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
BAX
-9.04%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports a negative net margin of -6.23%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reports 9.75%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.75%

Max
29.35%
ABT
9.75%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-6.23%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
BAX
-6.23%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 11.66% and Baxter (BAX) at 9.88% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.66%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
ABT
11.66%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.88%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
BAX
9.88%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
ROE (TTM)9.14%-9.04%
ROA (TTM)4.90%2.71%
Net Margin (TTM)9.75%-6.23%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.66%9.88%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.17%33.37%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 5.67% and Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reports EPS growth of -51.31%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.67%5.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.51%3.79%
EPS Growth (YoY)-51.31%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.65%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 1.46 and Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.46

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
ABT
1.46
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.79

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
BAX
1.79
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 0.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Baxter (BAX) at 1.36 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.61

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
ABT
0.61
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.36

Max
1.88
BAX
1.36
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.461.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.611.36
Net Debt / EBITDA2.373.73

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 2.22% and Baxter (BAX) at 0.16% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.22%

ABT
2.22%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.16%

BAX
0.16%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 154.67%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reports 92.54%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

92.54%

ABT
92.54%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

154.67%

BAX
154.67%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.22%0.16%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)92.54%154.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Abbott Laboratories (ABT) trades at 41.02 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Baxter (BAX) has no P/E ratio this period.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

41.02

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
ABT
41.02
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
BAX
--
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ABT is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 3.95 and Baxter (BAX) at 1.15 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.95

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
ABT
3.95
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.15

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
BAX
1.15
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Abbott Laboratories (ABT) at 3.73 and Baxter (BAX) at 2.05 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ABT

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.73

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
ABT
3.73
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.05

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
BAX
2.05
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter (BAX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter (BAX)
MetricABTBAX
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.02--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.951.15
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.732.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.19%9.16%