Becton Dickinson (BDX) vs Boston Scientific (BSX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Becton Dickinson (BDX) has outperformed Boston Scientific (BSX) over the past year, gaining 19.0% versus a loss of 56.6%. Over five years, BDX leads with a -2.6% price change compared with -4.2% for BSX. Boston Scientific is the larger company by market cap ($60.26 billion vs $49.07 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Boston Scientific trades at a lower forward P/E (12.3x vs 13.5x for Becton Dickinson). Becton Dickinson pays a dividend yielding 2.33%, while Boston Scientific does not currently pay one. Boston Scientific converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.4% versus 7.7%.
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 | BDX | BSX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $180.16 | $41.58 |
| Market cap | $49.07B | $60.26B |
| 1-day change | -0.08% | -1.45% |
| YTD return | +18.08% | -56.39% |
| 1-year return | +19.03% | -56.64% |
| 5-year return | -2.60% | -4.19% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 41.90 | 16.83 |
| Forward P/E | 13.54 | 12.29 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.30 | $2.47 |
| Dividend yield | 2.33% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $4.19 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $21.84B | $20.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.24% | +19.87% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.68B | $2.89B |
| Gross margin | 45.44% | 69.01% |
| Operating margin | 11.81% | 18.00% |
| Net margin | 7.68% | 14.41% |
| 52-week high | $193.07 | $105.65 |
| 52-week low | $127.59 | $41.50 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.69% | -60.64% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +7.73% | +44.06% |
| Average volume | 1.78M | 19.77M |
| Shares outstanding | 272.39M | 1.45B |
| Employees | 72,000 | 59,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Healthcare |
| Industry | Medical/Dental Instruments | Medical Devices |
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
- BDX has outperformed BSX by 75.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Becton Dickinson trades at a higher earnings multiple (41.9x vs 16.8x trailing P/E).
- Becton Dickinson offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.33% vs 0.00%).
- Boston Scientific is more profitable, keeping 14.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 7.7 cents for Becton Dickinson.
- Boston Scientific grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+19.87% vs +8.24%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Becton Dickinson in Health Care and Boston Scientific in Healthcare.
About Becton Dickinson
BDX stock →Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. It operates through Medical Essentials, Connected Care, BioPharma Systems, Interventional and Life Sciences segments.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 72,000 employees
About Boston Scientific
BSX stock →Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. The company operates in two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular.
Healthcare · Medical Devices · 59,000 employees
BDX vs BSX FAQ
Which is bigger, Becton Dickinson or Boston Scientific?
Boston Scientific (BSX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $60.26B compared with $49.07B for Becton Dickinson (BDX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BDX or BSX?
BDX returned +19.03% over the past 12 months, compared with -56.64% for BSX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BDX or BSX?
BSX has the lower trailing P/E at 16.8, versus 41.9 for BDX. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Becton Dickinson or Boston Scientific?
Becton Dickinson pays a dividend yielding 2.33%, while Boston Scientific does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Becton Dickinson and Boston Scientific in the same industry?
No. Becton Dickinson is in the Health Care sector, while Boston Scientific is in Healthcare.