BAX vs. GH: Baxter vs. Guardant Health Stock Comparison
How do Baxter (BAX) and Guardant Health (GH) 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 Guardant Health (GH) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but BAX is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while GH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.
| Profile Item | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Baxter International Inc. | Guardant Health, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Health Care Equipment & Services | Health Care Equipment & Services |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Health Care Providers & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Equipment | Health Care Services |
| Market Capitalization | 13.34 billion USD | 20.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1981 | October 4, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 45.72% | 66.53% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -5.53% | 92.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -17.96% | 8.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Guardant Health (GH) has an aggressive beta of 1.69, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Baxter (BAX) is defensive at 0.62 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.31% | 53.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.62 | 1.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -80.61% | -85.09% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.53M | 1.97M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.98 | 1.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.42 | 1.84 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Guardant Health (GH) has no ROE value reported for this period; Baxter (BAX) reports a negative figure of -9.04%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.
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%
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
- GH
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Baxter (BAX) at -6.23% and Guardant Health (GH) at -37.93% report negative net margin values, usually indicating net losses over the period.
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%
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
-37.93%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
- GH
- -37.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative operating margin of -37.06%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Baxter (BAX) reports 9.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
-37.06%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
- GH
- -37.06%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -9.04% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.71% | -19.92% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -6.23% | -37.93% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.88% | -37.06% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 33.37% | 65.19% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Guardant Health (GH) at 32.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GH.
EPS Growth
Neither Baxter (BAX) nor Guardant Health (GH) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.72% | 32.88% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.79% | 29.75% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 and Guardant Health (GH) at 3.60 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.60
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- GH
- 3.60
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Baxter (BAX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36 against its industry range, while Guardant Health (GH) reports no figure this period.
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
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
- GH
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.79 | 3.60 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.36 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.73 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Guardant Health (GH) 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%
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- GH
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Baxter (BAX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 154.67%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Guardant Health (GH) 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%
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- GH
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.16% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 154.67% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Neither Baxter (BAX) nor Guardant Health (GH) reports a P/E ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
BAX
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
- BAX
- --
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
- GH
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Baxter (BAX) at 1.15 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Guardant Health (GH) at 15.96 clears its benchmark range — GH looks notably rich on 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
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
15.96
- GH
- 15.96
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -73.67, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Baxter (BAX) reports 2.05, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
GH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
-73.67
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
- GH
- -73.67
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BAX | GH |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.15 | 15.96 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.05 | -73.67 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 9.16% | -0.30% |