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BAX vs. BDX: Baxter vs. Becton, Dickinson Stock Comparison

How do Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX) 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

Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX) 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 Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
Profile ItemBAXBDX
NameBaxter International Inc.Becton, Dickinson and Company
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 Capitalization13.34 billion USD57.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
BDX
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX), 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 Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
Total Return (1Y)45.72%57.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%7.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%4.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BAX
BDX
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX), 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 Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%26.68%
Beta (5Y)0.620.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-40.06%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M1.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and BDX 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 Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.982.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.423.59

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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) reports 5.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.66%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
BDX
5.66%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): 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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) reports 5.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.89%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
BDX
5.89%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 21.63% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Baxter (BAX) at 9.88%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

21.63%

Max
35.43%
BDX
21.63%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
ROE (TTM)-9.04%5.66%
ROA (TTM)2.71%3.59%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%5.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%21.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%47.02%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 8.24% 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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Becton, Dickinson (BDX) reports EPS growth of -1.86%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%8.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%4.99%
EPS Growth (YoY)---1.86%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---0.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.87 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BDX.

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

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.87

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
BDX
0.87
Min
0.30
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.66 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Baxter (BAX) at 1.36 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.66

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
BDX
0.66
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.790.87
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.360.66
Net Debt / EBITDA3.732.95

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Baxter (BAX) reports a yield of 0.16%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

BDX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): 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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) reports 72.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

72.49%

BDX
72.49%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%72.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Becton, Dickinson (BDX) trades at 41.87 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Baxter (BAX) has no P/E ratio this period.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
BAX
--

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

41.87

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
BDX
41.87
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; BDX is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Baxter (BAX) at 1.15 and Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.97 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.97

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
BDX
2.97
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): 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 Baxter (BAX) at 2.05 and Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.34 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.34

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
BDX
2.34
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Becton, Dickinson (BDX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson (BDX)
MetricBAXBDX
P/E Ratio (TTM)--41.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.152.97
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.052.34
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%7.18%