Seek Returns

BDX vs. HCA: Becton, Dickinson vs. HCA Healthcare Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Profile ItemBDXHCA
NameBecton, Dickinson and CompanyHCA Healthcare, 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 Facilities
Market Capitalization57.71 billion USD103.40 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 10, 2011
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BDX
HCA
GSPC
Loading price history…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
Total Return (1Y)57.61%6.56%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.79%31.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.70%16.40%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BDX
HCA
GSPC
Loading price history…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.68%32.89%
Beta (5Y)0.191.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.06%-39.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.77M1.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
BDX and HCA 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.000.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.590.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Becton, Dickinson (BDX) earns 5.66% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; HCA Healthcare (HCA) 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
HCA
--
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): HCA 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 8.61% 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.61%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
HCA
8.61%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 14.83% 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.83%

Max
35.43%
HCA
14.83%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
ROE (TTM)5.66%--
ROA (TTM)3.59%12.23%
Net Margin (TTM)5.89%8.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.63%14.83%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.02%42.76%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 8.24% and HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 7.08% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 28.77% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at -1.86% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for HCA.

Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.24%7.08%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.99%7.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.86%28.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.34%13.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.87 and HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 0.82 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.82

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
HCA
0.82
Min
0.30
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
HCA
--
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): HCA 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.870.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.66--
Net Debt / EBITDA2.953.26

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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) reports a yield of 0.60%, 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.60%

HCA
0.60%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 10.15% 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%

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.15%

HCA
10.15%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)72.49%10.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 16.42 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 41.87 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for HCA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

16.42

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
HCA
16.42
Min
4.21
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 1.31 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.31

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
HCA
1.31
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) reports a negative P/B ratio of -12.92, 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

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-12.92

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
HCA
-12.92
Loading chart…
Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. HCA Healthcare (HCA): 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 HCA Healthcare (HCA)
MetricBDXHCA
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.8716.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.971.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.34-12.92
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.18%3.81%