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BAX vs. EW: Baxter vs. Edwards Lifesciences Stock Comparison

How do Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW) 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW) 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
Profile ItemBAXEW
NameBaxter International Inc.Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
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 USD58.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981March 27, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
EW
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW), 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
Total Return (1Y)45.72%25.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%17.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%-2.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%25.58%
Beta (5Y)0.620.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-54.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M3.69M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and EW 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.980.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.421.23

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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW) reports 9.33%, 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%

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.33%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
EW
9.33%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW) reports 15.30%, 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%

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.30%

Max
29.35%
EW
15.30%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) at 30.15% 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%

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

30.15%

Max
35.43%
EW
30.15%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
ROE (TTM)-9.04%9.33%
ROA (TTM)2.71%8.77%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%15.30%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%30.15%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%78.02%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and Edwards Lifesciences (EW) at 11.55% 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. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Edwards Lifesciences (EW) reports EPS growth of -73.74%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%11.55%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%10.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)---73.74%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---9.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Edwards Lifesciences (EW) at 4.60 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

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

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.60

Max
7.59
EW
4.60
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) at 0.06 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Baxter (BAX) at 1.36 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.06

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
EW
0.06
Min
0.00
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.794.60
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.360.06
Net Debt / EBITDA3.73-1.88

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) 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%

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

EW
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): 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; Edwards Lifesciences (EW) 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%

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
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: Edwards Lifesciences (EW) trades at 59.38 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
--

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

59.38

Max
80.41
EW
59.38
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; EW is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.15 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Edwards Lifesciences (EW) at 8.80 sits in the pricier quartile — EW costs more per dollar of sales.

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

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.80

EW
8.80
Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): 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 Edwards Lifesciences (EW) at 5.41 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

EW

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.41

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
EW
5.41
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW)
MetricBAXEW
P/E Ratio (TTM)--59.38
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.158.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.055.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%1.95%