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BAX vs. COR: Baxter vs. Cencora Stock Comparison

How do Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR) 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 Cencora (COR) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but BAX is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while COR is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
Profile ItemBAXCOR
NameBaxter International Inc.Cencora Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Equipment & SuppliesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care EquipmentHealth Care Distributors
Market Capitalization13.34 billion USD63.65 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981April 4, 1995
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
COR
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR), 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 Cencora (COR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
Total Return (1Y)45.72%-3.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%21.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%24.10%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%31.90%
Beta (5Y)0.620.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-32.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M1.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and COR 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 Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.98-0.24
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.42-0.30

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 Cencora (COR) reports 129.01%, 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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

129.01%

COR
129.01%
Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): 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 Cencora (COR) reports 1.03%, 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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.03%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
COR
1.03%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 9.88% and Cencora (COR) at 1.27% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.27%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
COR
1.27%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
ROE (TTM)-9.04%129.01%
ROA (TTM)2.71%3.57%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%1.03%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%1.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%4.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Baxter (BAX) reports revenue growth of 5.72%, ranked against its industry; Cencora (COR) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Cencora (COR) reports EPS growth of 125.50%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%--
EPS Growth (YoY)--125.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--28.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Cencora (COR) at 0.94 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for COR.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.94

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
COR
0.94
Min
0.30
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but COR is more stretched: Baxter (BAX) at 1.36 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Cencora (COR) at 3.06 is above its industry benchmark range.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.06

COR
3.06
Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): 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 Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.790.94
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.363.06
Net Debt / EBITDA3.731.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 0.16% and Cencora (COR) at 0.71% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.71%

COR
0.71%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): 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 Cencora (COR) reports 17.45%, 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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.45%

COR
17.45%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%0.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%17.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Cencora (COR) trades at 18.58 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
--

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

18.58

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
COR
18.58
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; COR is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cencora (COR) at 0.19 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Baxter (BAX) at 1.15 prices around its industry’s middle — COR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.19

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
COR
0.19
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 2.05 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Cencora (COR) at 17.29 prices above its benchmark range — COR looks rich relative to book.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.29

COR
17.29
Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Cencora (COR)
MetricBAXCOR
P/E Ratio (TTM)--18.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.150.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.0517.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%2.81%