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BDX vs. CNC: Becton, Dickinson vs. Centene Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
Profile ItemBDXCNC
NameBecton, Dickinson and CompanyCentene Corp.
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 EquipmentManaged Health Care
Market Capitalization57.71 billion USD34.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 13, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BDX
CNC
GSPC
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC), 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 Centene (CNC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
Total Return (1Y)57.61%84.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.79%-0.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.70%-1.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.68%46.34%
Beta (5Y)0.191.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.06%-74.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.77M4.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BDX and CNC 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 Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.001.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.592.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 5.66% and Centene (CNC) at 6.74% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

6.74%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
CNC
6.74%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 5.89% and Centene (CNC) at 0.81% 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%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.81%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
CNC
0.81%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): 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 Centene (CNC) at 0.74%, 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%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.74%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
CNC
0.74%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
ROE (TTM)5.66%6.74%
ROA (TTM)3.59%2.68%
Net Margin (TTM)5.89%0.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.63%0.74%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.02%11.34%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 8.24% and Centene (CNC) at 19.44% 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. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at -1.86% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Centene (CNC) at -314.42% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.24%19.44%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.99%10.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.86%-314.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.34%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.87 and Centene (CNC) at 1.16 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

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.16

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
CNC
1.16
Min
0.30
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.66 and Centene (CNC) at 0.70 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.70

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
CNC
0.70
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.871.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.660.70
Net Debt / EBITDA2.95-1.71

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Becton, Dickinson (BDX) nor Centene (CNC) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Centene (CNC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Becton, Dickinson (BDX) reports a payout of 72.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)72.49%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 41.87 and Centene (CNC) at 23.97 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

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

23.97

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
CNC
23.97
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Centene (CNC) at 0.19 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.97 prices around its industry’s middle — CNC 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

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.19

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
CNC
0.19
Min
0.03
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Centene (CNC) at 1.55 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.34 is valued near its industry’s middle — CNC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.55

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
CNC
1.55
Min
-1.31
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Centene (CNC): 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 Centene (CNC)
MetricBDXCNC
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.8723.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.970.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.341.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.18%8.93%