BDX vs. UNH: Becton, Dickinson vs. UnitedHealth Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Profile Item	BDX	UNH
Name	Becton, Dickinson and Company	UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Health Care Equipment & Services	Health Care Equipment & Services
GICS Industry	Health Care Equipment & Supplies	Health Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Equipment	Managed Health Care
Market Capitalization	57.71 billion USD	353.17 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	October 17, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BDX

UNH

GSPC

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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 UnitedHealth (UNH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
Total Return (1Y)	57.61%	26.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	7.79%	-7.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	4.70%	-1.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BDX

UNH

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	26.68%	34.76%
Beta (5Y)	0.19	0.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.06%	-61.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.77M	5.13M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BDX and UNH 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.00	0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.59	0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 15.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 5.66% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UNH.

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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.77%

Max: 47.61%
UNH: 15.77%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.53% 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.53%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
UNH: 3.53%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 5.82%, 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.82%

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
UNH: 5.82%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
ROE (TTM)	5.66%	15.77%
ROA (TTM)	3.59%	5.24%
Net Margin (TTM)	5.89%	3.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.63%	5.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)	47.02%	20.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 8.24% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 11.81% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at -1.86% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at -14.70% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.24%	11.81%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.99%	11.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.86%	-14.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.34%	-14.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 0.87 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.74 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.74

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
UNH: 0.74
Min: 0.30

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.70

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
UNH: 0.70
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.87	0.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.66	0.70
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.95	1.58

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 UnitedHealth (UNH) reports a yield of 2.29%, 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.29%

UNH: 2.29%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 51.71% 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%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

51.71%

UNH: 51.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Becton, Dickinson (BDX) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	2.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	72.49%	51.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 41.87 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 22.50 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

22.50

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
UNH: 22.50
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Becton, Dickinson (BDX) at 2.97 prices around its industry’s middle — UNH 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.78

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
UNH: 0.78
Min: 0.03

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.60 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

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.60

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
UNH: 3.60
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Becton, Dickinson (BDX) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	BDX	UNH
P/E Ratio (TTM)	41.87	22.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.97	0.78
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	3.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.18%	7.50%