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BDX vs. CAH: Becton, Dickinson vs. Cardinal Health Stock Comparison

How do Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH) 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

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but BDX is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while CAH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
Profile ItemBDXCAH
NameBecton, Dickinson and CompanyCardinal Health, 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 Distributors
Market Capitalization57.71 billion USD62.80 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973August 4, 1983
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BDX
CAH
GSPC
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH), 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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
Total Return (1Y)57.61%35.44%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.79%40.52%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.70%43.73%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BDX
CAH
GSPC
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH), 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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.68%25.91%
Beta (5Y)0.190.49
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.06%-20.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.77M1.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BDX and CAH 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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.001.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.591.90

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Becton, Dickinson (BDX) earns 5.66% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Cardinal Health (CAH) has no ROE this period.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.66%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
BDX
5.66%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 5.89% and Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.71% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.89%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
BDX
5.89%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.71%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
CAH
0.71%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 21.63% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cardinal Health (CAH) at 1.34%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

21.63%

Max
35.43%
BDX
21.63%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.34%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
CAH
1.34%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
ROE (TTM)5.66%--
ROA (TTM)3.59%3.72%
Net Margin (TTM)5.89%0.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.63%1.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.02%3.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 8.24% and Cardinal Health (CAH) at 14.23% 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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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at -1.86% and Cardinal Health (CAH) at 12.09% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.24%14.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.99%7.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.86%12.09%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.34%93.37%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.87 and Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.89 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.87

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
BDX
0.87
Min
0.30

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.89

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
CAH
0.89
Min
0.30
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): 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: Becton, Dickinson (BDX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66 against its industry range, while Cardinal Health (CAH) reports no figure this period.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.66

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
BDX
0.66
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.870.89
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.66--
Net Debt / EBITDA2.950.81

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cardinal Health (CAH) reports a yield of 0.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

BDX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.77%

CAH
0.77%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 72.49% and Cardinal Health (CAH) at 26.56% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

72.49%

BDX
72.49%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

26.56%

CAH
26.56%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)72.49%26.56%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 41.87 and Cardinal Health (CAH) at 35.15 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

41.87

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
BDX
41.87
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

35.15

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
CAH
35.15
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.24 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.97 prices around its industry’s middle — CAH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.97

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
BDX
2.97
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.24

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
CAH
0.24
Min
0.03
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cardinal Health (CAH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -20.84, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Becton, Dickinson (BDX) reports 2.34, ranking against industry peers normally.

BDX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.34

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
BDX
2.34
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31

CAH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-20.84

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
CAH
-20.84
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Cardinal Health (CAH): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Cardinal Health (CAH)
MetricBDXCAH
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.8735.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.970.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.34-20.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.18%7.99%