Baxter International (BAX) Competitors

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) and Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, community ranking, dividends, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, media sentiment and institutional ownership.

Is BAX or BDX a better dividend stock?

Baxter International pays an annual dividend of $0.68 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. Becton, Dickinson and Company pays an annual dividend of $4.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. Baxter International pays out -53.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Becton, Dickinson and Company pays out 69.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Becton, Dickinson and Company has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years. Baxter International is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Do institutionals and insiders have more ownership in BAX or BDX?

90.2% of Baxter International shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.0% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Baxter International shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Does the MarketBeat Community prefer BAX or BDX?

Baxter International received 136 more outperform votes than Becton, Dickinson and Company when rated by MarketBeat users. Likewise, 65.69% of users gave Baxter International an outperform vote while only 62.41% of users gave Becton, Dickinson and Company an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
Baxter International	Outperform Votes 737 65.69%	Underperform Votes 385 34.31%
Becton, Dickinson and Company	Outperform Votes 601 62.41%	Underperform Votes 362 37.59%

Does the media prefer BAX or BDX?

In the previous week, Becton, Dickinson and Company had 34 more articles in the media than Baxter International. MarketBeat recorded 39 mentions for Becton, Dickinson and Company and 5 mentions for Baxter International. Becton, Dickinson and Company's average media sentiment score of 1.30 beat Baxter International's score of 0.10 indicating that Becton, Dickinson and Company is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Baxter International	2 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Neutral
Becton, Dickinson and Company	31 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	6 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Which has higher earnings and valuation, BAX or BDX?

Becton, Dickinson and Company has higher revenue and earnings than Baxter International. Baxter International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Becton, Dickinson and Company, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Baxter International	$10.64B	1.59	-$649M	-$1.28	-25.81
Becton, Dickinson and Company	$20.64B	3.17	$1.71B	$6.02	37.87

Do analysts rate BAX or BDX?

Baxter International currently has a consensus price target of $38.56, indicating a potential upside of 16.69%. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a consensus price target of $278.29, indicating a potential upside of 22.08%. Given Becton, Dickinson and Company's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Becton, Dickinson and Company is more favorable than Baxter International.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Baxter International	1 Sell rating(s)	4 Hold rating(s)	5 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.40
Becton, Dickinson and Company	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	7 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00

Which has more risk and volatility, BAX or BDX?

Baxter International has a beta of 0.6, meaning that its stock price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Becton, Dickinson and Company has a beta of 0.35, meaning that its stock price is 65% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Is BAX or BDX more profitable?

Becton, Dickinson and Company has a net margin of 8.47% compared to Baxter International's net margin of -5.05%. Baxter International's return on equity of 16.67% beat Becton, Dickinson and Company's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Baxter International	-5.05%	16.67%	4.93%
Becton, Dickinson and Company	8.47%	15.74%	7.29%

Summary

Becton, Dickinson and Company beats Baxter International on 14 of the 21 factors compared between the two stocks.