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BAX vs. HCA: Baxter vs. HCA Healthcare Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Profile ItemBAXHCA
NameBaxter International Inc.HCA Healthcare, 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 Facilities
Market Capitalization13.34 billion USD103.40 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981March 10, 2011
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
HCA
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA), 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
Total Return (1Y)45.72%6.56%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%31.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%16.40%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%32.89%
Beta (5Y)0.621.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-39.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M1.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and HCA 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.980.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.420.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
HCA
--
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): HCA does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; BAX is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports a negative net margin of -6.23%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile HCA Healthcare (HCA) reports 8.61%, 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.61%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
HCA
8.61%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 14.83% 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.83%

Max
35.43%
HCA
14.83%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
ROE (TTM)-9.04%--
ROA (TTM)2.71%12.23%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%8.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%14.83%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%42.76%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 7.08% 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. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: HCA Healthcare (HCA) reports EPS growth of 28.77%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%7.08%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%7.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)--28.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--13.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 0.82 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for HCA.

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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.82

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
HCA
0.82
Min
0.30
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
HCA
--
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): HCA does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; BAX is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.790.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.36--
Net Debt / EBITDA3.733.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 0.16% and HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 0.60% 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.60%

HCA
0.60%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) reports 10.15%, 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.15%

HCA
10.15%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%10.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: HCA Healthcare (HCA) trades at 16.42 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
--

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

16.42

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
HCA
16.42
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; HCA 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 1.31 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.31

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
HCA
1.31
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) reports a negative P/B ratio of -12.92, 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-12.92

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
HCA
-12.92
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Baxter (BAX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBAXHCA
P/E Ratio (TTM)--16.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.151.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.05-12.92
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%3.81%