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BAX vs. BSX: Baxter vs. Boston Scientific Stock Comparison

How do Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX) 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 Boston Scientific (BSX) 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 Boston Scientific (BSX)
Profile ItemBAXBSX
NameBaxter International Inc.Boston Scientific Corp.
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 USD61.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981May 19, 1992
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
BSX
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX), 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 Boston Scientific (BSX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
Total Return (1Y)45.72%-55.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%-5.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%0.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BAX
BSX
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX), 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 Boston Scientific (BSX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%40.16%
Beta (5Y)0.620.57
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-61.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M19.73M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and BSX 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 Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.98-1.50
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.42-1.80

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 Boston Scientific (BSX) reports 14.12%, 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%

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.12%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
BSX
14.12%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): 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 Boston Scientific (BSX) reports 16.62%, 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%

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

16.62%

Max
29.35%
BSX
16.62%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Boston Scientific (BSX) at 19.05% 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%

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

19.05%

Max
35.43%
BSX
19.05%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
ROE (TTM)-9.04%14.12%
ROA (TTM)2.71%5.87%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%16.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%19.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%67.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and Boston Scientific (BSX) at 19.87% 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. Boston Scientific (BSX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Boston Scientific (BSX) reports EPS growth of 55.20%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%19.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%16.54%
EPS Growth (YoY)--55.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--62.75%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Boston Scientific (BSX) at 1.37 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BSX.

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

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.37

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Boston Scientific (BSX) at 0.46 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

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.46

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
BSX
0.46
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): 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 Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.791.37
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.360.46
Net Debt / EBITDA3.732.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Boston Scientific (BSX) 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%

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

BSX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): 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; Boston Scientific (BSX) pays no dividend (payout 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%

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Boston Scientific (BSX) trades at 18.04 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
--

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

18.04

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
BSX
18.04
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; BSX 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 Boston Scientific (BSX) at 2.94 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

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.94

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
BSX
2.94
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): 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 Boston Scientific (BSX) at 2.42 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

BSX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.42

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
BSX
2.42
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Boston Scientific (BSX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Boston Scientific (BSX)
MetricBAXBSX
P/E Ratio (TTM)--18.04
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.152.94
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.052.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%4.02%