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BAX vs. EHC: Baxter vs. Encompass Health Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
Profile ItemBAXEHC
NameBaxter International Inc.Encompass Health Corporation
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 Facilities
Market Capitalization13.34 billion USD13.50 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981September 24, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
EHC
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC), 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 Encompass Health (EHC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
Total Return (1Y)45.72%22.16%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%30.96%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%23.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%30.54%
Beta (5Y)0.620.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-27.33%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M996.79K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and EHC 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 Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.980.59
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.421.08

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 Encompass Health (EHC) reports 25.11%, 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%

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.11%

Max
47.61%
EHC
25.11%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): 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 Encompass Health (EHC) reports 10.17%, 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%

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.17%

Max
29.35%
EHC
10.17%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Encompass Health (EHC) at 18.07% 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%

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

18.07%

Max
35.43%
EHC
18.07%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
ROE (TTM)-9.04%25.11%
ROA (TTM)2.71%10.08%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%10.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%18.07%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%44.15%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and Encompass Health (EHC) at 10.46% 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. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Encompass Health (EHC) reports EPS growth of 24.22%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%10.46%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%10.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)--24.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--27.07%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Encompass Health (EHC) at 1.09 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for EHC.

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

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.09

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
EHC
1.09
Min
0.30
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Encompass Health (EHC) at 0.79 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

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.79

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
EHC
0.79
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): 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 Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.791.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.360.79
Net Debt / EBITDA3.731.79

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 0.16% and Encompass Health (EHC) at 0.55% 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%

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.55%

EHC
0.55%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): 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 Encompass Health (EHC) reports 12.48%, 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%

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

12.48%

EHC
12.48%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%0.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%12.48%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Encompass Health (EHC) trades at 22.01 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
--

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.01

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
EHC
22.01
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; EHC 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 Encompass Health (EHC) at 2.13 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

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.13

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
EHC
2.13
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): 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 Encompass Health (EHC) at 5.04 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

EHC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.04

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
EHC
5.04
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Encompass Health (EHC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Encompass Health (EHC)
MetricBAXEHC
P/E Ratio (TTM)--22.01
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.152.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.055.04
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%1.97%