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BDX vs. DGX: Becton, Dickinson vs. Quest Diagnostics Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Profile ItemBDXDGX
NameBecton, Dickinson and CompanyQuest Diagnostics Incorporated
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 Services
Market Capitalization57.71 billion USD28.21 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 17, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BDX
DGX
GSPC
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX), 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
Total Return (1Y)57.61%45.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.79%27.45%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.70%14.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.68%24.06%
Beta (5Y)0.190.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.06%-28.62%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.77M1.00M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BDX and DGX 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.001.73
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.593.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 5.66% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DGX.

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%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.32%

Max
47.61%
DGX
15.32%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 9.54% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 5.89%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.54%

Max
29.35%
DGX
9.54%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 21.63% and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 15.63% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.63%

Max
35.43%
DGX
15.63%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
ROE (TTM)5.66%15.32%
ROA (TTM)3.59%6.61%
Net Margin (TTM)5.89%9.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.63%15.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.02%33.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 8.24% and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 11.78% 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. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at -1.86% and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 13.78% 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. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.24%11.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.99%3.74%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.86%13.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.34%3.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.87 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BDX.

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

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.70

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
DGX
1.70
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 0.80 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

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.80

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
DGX
0.80
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.871.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.660.80
Net Debt / EBITDA2.952.38

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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) reports a yield of 1.33%, 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%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.33%

DGX
1.33%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.10% 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%

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.10%

DGX
25.10%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.33%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)72.49%25.10%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 41.87 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 25.46 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

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.46

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
DGX
25.46
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.97 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 2.38 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.38

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
DGX
2.38
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): 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 Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.34 and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) at 3.68 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

DGX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.68

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
DGX
3.68
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. Quest Diagnostics (DGX): 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 Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
MetricBDXDGX
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.8725.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.972.38
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.343.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.18%3.09%