BAX vs. WST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at BAX and WST, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Baxter International Inc. | West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 9.36 billion USD | 19.04 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1981 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of BAX and WST by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 4.06% | -5.12% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -23.61% | 6.16% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -40.71% | 21.07% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -43.40% | -24.02% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 0.00% | -7.34% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -36.66% | -20.21% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 10.18M | 0.71M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 7.70M | 0.70M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 39.93% | 34.12% |
| Beta | 0.58 | 1.17 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
BAX
-4.77%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.82%
- Q3
- 15.54%
- Median
- 9.69%
- Q1
- 5.19%
- Min
- -7.98%
BAX has a negative Return on Equity of -4.77%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
WST
17.33%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 23.81%
- Q3
- 11.79%
- Median
- 7.51%
- Q1
- 3.14%
- Min
- -6.95%
In the upper quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, WST’s Return on Equity of 17.33% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
BAX
-3.09%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.65%
- Q3
- 14.10%
- Median
- 10.09%
- Q1
- 5.84%
- Min
- -6.13%
BAX has a negative Net Profit Margin of -3.09%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
WST
16.29%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 33.77%
- Q3
- 17.97%
- Median
- 8.97%
- Q1
- 3.80%
- Min
- -11.89%
WST’s Net Profit Margin of 16.29% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
BAX
-0.13%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.34%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- Median
- 15.07%
- Q1
- 9.62%
- Min
- -0.13%
BAX has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -0.13%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
WST
19.48%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 31.55%
- Q3
- 21.26%
- Median
- 14.06%
- Q1
- 8.54%
- Min
- 0.11%
WST’s Operating Profit Margin of 19.48% is around the midpoint for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -4.77% | 17.33% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -1.53% | 12.84% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -3.09% | 16.29% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -0.13% | 19.48% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 35.04% | 35.58% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
BAX
1.84
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.97
- Q3
- 2.92
- Median
- 2.12
- Q1
- 1.54
- Min
- 0.86
BAX’s Current Ratio of 1.84 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
WST
2.87
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 4.76
- Q3
- 2.87
- Median
- 1.75
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.57
WST’s Current Ratio of 2.87 aligns with the median group of the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
BAX
1.31
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.62
- Q3
- 0.74
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.15
- Min
- 0.00
BAX’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.31. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
WST
0.07
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 0.95
- Q3
- 0.70
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.18
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, WST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.07 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
BAX
0.20
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 56.35
- Q3
- 24.86
- Median
- 9.84
- Q1
- 3.86
- Min
- -21.65
BAX’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 0.20 is a critical concern. A value below 1.0 means operating earnings are insufficient to cover interest expenses, indicating severe financial strain and high default risk.
WST
130.12
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 45.00
- Q3
- 27.84
- Median
- 7.16
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -14.08
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 130.12, WST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.84 | 2.87 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.95 | 2.18 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.31 | 0.07 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 0.20 | 130.12 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
BAX
4.36%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.36%
- Q3
- 1.87%
- Median
- 0.82%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 4.36%, BAX offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
WST
0.31%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.02%
- Q3
- 0.67%
- Median
- 0.32%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST’s Dividend Yield of 0.31% is consistent with its peers in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
BAX
90.20%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 67.77%
- Median
- 28.21%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BAX’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 90.20% is in the upper quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
WST
12.34%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 97.67%
- Q3
- 61.34%
- Median
- 18.53%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 12.34% is within the typical range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.36% | 0.31% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 90.20% | 12.34% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
BAX
--
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 67.59
- Q3
- 41.41
- Median
- 33.11
- Q1
- 22.82
- Min
- 8.68
P/E Ratio data for BAX is currently unavailable.
WST
40.29
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 78.22
- Q3
- 57.42
- Median
- 34.18
- Q1
- 28.39
- Min
- 1.55
WST’s P/E Ratio of 40.29 is within the middle range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
BAX
0.85
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.49
- Q3
- 5.41
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- 0.61
In the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, BAX’s P/S Ratio of 0.85 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
WST
6.56
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 10.69
- Q3
- 6.37
- Median
- 4.95
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 1.04
WST’s P/S Ratio of 6.56 is in the upper echelon for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
BAX
1.62
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.77
- Q3
- 6.04
- Median
- 3.32
- Q1
- 2.31
- Min
- 0.83
BAX’s P/B Ratio of 1.62 is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
WST
6.18
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 8.12
- Q3
- 5.04
- Median
- 3.94
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- 1.13
WST’s P/B Ratio of 6.18 is in the upper tier for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | -- | 40.29 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.85 | 6.56 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.62 | 6.18 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 16.75 | 52.25 |