Becton, Dickinson and Co.
BDX
$154.51
-1.17%
Becton, Dickinson and Co. is a global leader in manufacturing and distributing medical surgical products and diagnostic instruments. It holds a dominant position as the world's largest supplier of needles and syringes, with a diversified portfolio across medical essentials, interventional, connected care, and biopharma segments.…
BDX
Becton, Dickinson and Co.
$154.51
Investment Opinion: Should I buy BDX Today?
Based on a synthesis of the data, the objective assessment is a Hold with a value-oriented bias. The analyst consensus is 'Buy' with a $196 average target, and the forward P/E of 11.6 is compelling for a stable healthcare leader. However, the powerful negative price momentum and weak recent quarterly performance advise caution. Investors should wait for evidence of a technical basing pattern or improved operational results before establishing new positions.
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BDX 12-Month Price Forecast
The data paints a mixed picture. The valuation and analyst support provide a solid floor, but the stock needs a catalyst to reverse powerful negative momentum. The most likely path is a gradual recovery, but timing remains uncertain.
Wall Street consensus
Most Wall Street analysts maintain a constructive view on Becton, Dickinson and Co.'s 12-month outlook, with a consensus price target around $200.86 and implied upside of +30.0% versus the current price.
Average Target
$200.86
6 analysts
Implied Upside
+30.0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
6
covering this stock
Price Range
$124 - $201
Analyst target range
Wall Street analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus recommendation of 'Buy' and a mean rating of 2.36 (on a scale where 1 is Strong Buy). The average 12-month price target is $196.08, representing a potential upside of approximately 25% from the current price of $157.23, with targets ranging from a low of $157.0 to a high of $225.0.
Bulls vs Bears: BDX Investment Factors
BDX presents a classic value vs. momentum conflict. Fundamentally, it is a financially stable industry leader with a cheap forward valuation and strong analyst support. However, the stock is in a severe technical downtrend with weak recent operational momentum, creating significant near-term uncertainty.
Bullish
- Strong Analyst Consensus: Analysts maintain a 'Buy' rating with 25% upside to average target.
- Attractive Forward Valuation: Forward P/E of 11.6 suggests earnings growth is expected.
- Robust Free Cash Flow: Generates substantial $2.63B TTM FCF, supporting dividends and growth.
- Dominant Market Position: World's largest supplier of needles and syringes.
Bearish
- Pronounced Technical Downtrend: Stock down 18% over 6 months, underperforming the market.
- Modest Revenue Growth: Latest quarterly revenue grew only 1.6% year-over-year.
- Declining Quarterly Profitability: Net income fell from $493M to $382M sequentially.
- Weak Relative Strength: Significant underperformance vs. S&P 500 over 1-year period.
BDX Technical Analysis
Overall, the stock has been in a pronounced downtrend over the past six months, with the price declining from around $191.6 in early October 2025 to $157.23 as of March 31, 2026, representing a 6-month decline of 17.94%. Short-term performance has been weak, with the stock down 10.91% over the past month and 18.98% over the past three months, significantly underperforming the broader market as indicated by negative relative strength figures. The current price of $157.23 is near the lower end of its 52-week range of $127.59 to $187.35, sitting approximately 16% above the 52-week low but well below the high, indicating the stock is in a depressed technical position.
Beta
0.31
0.31x market volatility
Max Drawdown
-33.6%
Largest decline past year
52-Week Range
$128-$187
Price range past year
Annual Return
-31.8%
Cumulative gain past year
| Period | BDX Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -11.3% | -3.6% |
| 3m | -20.7% | -4.0% |
| 6m | -20.2% | -2.0% |
| 1y | -31.8% | +16.2% |
| ytd | -20.7% | -3.8% |
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BDX Fundamental Analysis
Revenue growth has been modest, with the latest quarterly revenue of $5.25 billion representing a year-over-year increase of 1.63%. Profitability metrics show a net margin of 8.01% (trailing) and an operating margin of 13.35%, though quarterly net income of $382 million in Q1 2026 was down from $493 million in the prior quarter. The company maintains a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 77.28% and a current ratio of 1.05, indicating adequate but not strong short-term liquidity, supported by substantial trailing twelve-month free cash flow of $2.63 billion. Operational efficiency is reflected in a return on equity of 6.96% and a return on assets of 4.08%, suggesting room for improvement in capital allocation.
Quarterly Revenue
$5.3B
2025-12
Revenue YoY Growth
+0.01%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
+0.44%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$2.6B
Last 12 Months
Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)
Revenue Breakdown
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Valuation Analysis: Is BDX Overvalued?
Given the company's positive net income, the primary valuation metric is the P/E ratio. The trailing P/E ratio is 25.69, while the forward P/E is notably lower at 11.64, suggesting the market anticipates earnings growth or a recovery. The price-to-sales ratio is 2.60 and the EV/EBITDA is 10.52, providing additional context for the valuation. Peer comparison data is not available in the provided inputs to assess these multiples against industry averages.
PE
19.8x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Low-End
5-Year PE Range 13x~107x
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/A*
EV/EBITDA
10.4x
Enterprise Value Multiple
Investment Risk Disclosure
The primary risk is the continuation of the severe price downtrend, which has seen the stock fall nearly 20% year-to-date and significantly underperform the broader market. This suggests a potential loss of investor confidence or negative sentiment overriding fundamentals. Operationally, risks include the recent sequential decline in net income and modest top-line growth of 1.6%, which may indicate competitive pressures or pricing challenges in its core markets. Financial risks are moderate, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 77% and adequate liquidity (current ratio of 1.05), but the high trailing P/E of 25.7 leaves the stock vulnerable to multiple compression if earnings growth does not materialize as anticipated by the lower forward P/E. The lack of recent news in the provided data limits insight into potential company-specific catalysts or headwinds.
FAQ
Key risks include continued price depreciation from the ongoing downtrend, further deterioration in quarterly profitability (net income fell 22% last quarter), and the potential for the forward earnings growth to disappoint. Additionally, with 43% international revenue, the company faces currency and geopolitical risks. The high short ratio of 4.18 indicates significant bearish sentiment.
The 12-month forecast is mixed with a base case target of $157-$196, aligning with the analyst average. The bull case ($196-$225) depends on a successful operational turnaround, while the bear case ($128-$157) risks a test of the 52-week low. Analysts project a 25% average upside, but technicals suggest a cautious near-term path.
BDX appears undervalued on a forward-looking basis but fully valued or slightly overvalued on a trailing basis. The forward P/E of 11.6 is attractive and implies expected earnings growth, while the trailing P/E of 25.7 is high given its modest 1.6% revenue growth. The price-to-sales ratio of 2.6 and EV/EBITDA of 10.5 provide additional valuation context.
BDX is a good stock for value-oriented, patient investors, but timing is challenging. The forward P/E of 11.6 and average analyst target of $196 suggest significant upside from $157. However, the stock is in a severe downtrend, down 18% over six months. A 'Hold and monitor' stance is prudent until price stability is established.
BDX is more suitable for long-term investment given its stable business model, dividend yield of 2.67%, and valuation disconnect. The severe short-term technical weakness makes it a poor candidate for short-term trading. Long-term investors can potentially benefit from mean reversion in valuation and price, but must tolerate near-term volatility.