Baxter International (BAX) vs West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) has outperformed Baxter International (BAX) over the past year, gaining 37.8% versus a gain of 4.7%. Over five years, WST leads with a -9.5% price change compared with -69.9% for BAX. West Pharmaceutical Services is the larger company by market cap ($25.79 billion vs $12.39 billion), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Baxter International trades at a lower forward P/E (11.8x vs 36.7x for West Pharmaceutical Services). Baxter International offers the higher dividend yield (0.83% vs 0.24%). West Pharmaceutical Services converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.1% versus -8.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BAX | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $23.97 | $366.48 |
| Market cap | $12.39B | $25.79B |
| 1-day change | -1.60% | -1.65% |
| YTD return | +25.43% | +33.20% |
| 1-year return | +4.67% | +37.79% |
| 5-year return | -69.92% | -9.47% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 46.92 |
| Forward P/E | 11.75 | 36.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.85 | $7.81 |
| Dividend yield | 0.83% | 0.24% |
| Annual dividend | $0.20 | $0.87 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.24B | $3.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.72% | +6.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-957.00M | $493.70M |
| Gross margin | 30.05% | 35.91% |
| Operating margin | -2.74% | 19.03% |
| Net margin | -8.51% | 16.06% |
| 52-week high | $30.00 | $386.00 |
| 52-week low | $15.73 | $223.83 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.10% | -5.06% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.48% | +12.15% |
| Average volume | 6.63M | 629.98K |
| Shares outstanding | 517.00M | 70.38M |
| Employees | 37,500 | 10,800 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical/Dental Instruments | Medical/Dental Instruments |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- West Pharmaceutical Services is about 2.1 times larger than Baxter International by market value ($25.79B vs $12.39B).
- WST has outperformed BAX by 33.1 percentage points over the past year.
- West Pharmaceutical Services is more profitable, keeping 16.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -8.5 cents for Baxter International.
About Baxter International
BAX stock →Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a portfolio of healthcare products in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Medical Products & Therapies, Healthcare Systems & Technologies, and Pharmaceuticals.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 37,500 employees
About West Pharmaceutical Services
WST stock →West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 10,800 employees
BAX vs WST FAQ
Which is bigger, Baxter International or West Pharmaceutical Services?
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $25.79B compared with $12.39B for Baxter International (BAX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BAX or WST?
WST returned +37.79% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.67% for BAX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Baxter International or West Pharmaceutical Services?
Baxter International has the higher yield at 0.83%, compared with 0.24% for West Pharmaceutical Services.
Are Baxter International and West Pharmaceutical Services in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical/Dental Instruments industry within the Health Care sector.