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BAX vs. SYK: Baxter vs. Stryker Stock Comparison

How do Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK) 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 Stryker (SYK) 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 Stryker (SYK)
Profile ItemBAXSYK
NameBaxter International Inc.Stryker Corp.
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 USD124.06 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
SYK
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK), 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 Stryker (SYK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
Total Return (1Y)45.72%-6.99%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%7.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%4.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%32.80%
Beta (5Y)0.620.72
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-32.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M2.81M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX and SYK 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 Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.98-0.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.42-0.49

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 Stryker (SYK) reports 16.02%, 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

16.02%

Max
47.61%
SYK
16.02%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) reports 13.78%, 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.78%

Max
29.35%
SYK
13.78%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Stryker (SYK) at 22.96% 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.96%

Max
35.43%
SYK
22.96%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
ROE (TTM)-9.04%16.02%
ROA (TTM)2.71%8.36%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%22.96%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%65.70%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and Stryker (SYK) at 11.16% 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. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Stryker (SYK) reports EPS growth of 8.25%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%11.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%10.83%
EPS Growth (YoY)--8.25%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--10.83%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 and Stryker (SYK) at 2.18 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.18

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
SYK
2.18
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Stryker (SYK) at 0.66 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.66

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
SYK
0.66
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.792.18
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.360.66
Net Debt / EBITDA3.731.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 0.16% and Stryker (SYK) at 1.05% 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.05%

SYK
1.05%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) reports 37.49%, 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%

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

37.49%

SYK
37.49%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%1.05%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%37.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Stryker (SYK) trades at 34.70 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
--

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

34.70

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
SYK
34.70
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; SYK 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 Stryker (SYK) at 4.72 sits in the pricier quartile — SYK 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.72

Max
8.80
SYK
4.72
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): 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 Stryker (SYK) at 5.29 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

SYK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.29

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
SYK
5.29
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Baxter (BAX) vs. Stryker (SYK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Stryker (SYK)
MetricBAXSYK
P/E Ratio (TTM)--34.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.154.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.055.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%2.98%