Becton Dickinson (BDX) vs Stryker (SYK)
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 Stryker (SYK) over the past year, gaining 19.0% versus a loss of 25.4%. Over five years, SYK leads with a +3.4% price change compared with -2.6% for BDX. Stryker is the larger company by market cap ($105.39 billion vs $49.40 billion), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Becton Dickinson trades at a lower forward P/E (13.6x vs 16.5x for Stryker). Becton Dickinson offers the higher dividend yield (2.31% vs 1.27%). Stryker converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% 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 | SYK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $181.35 | $274.76 |
| Market cap | $49.40B | $105.39B |
| 1-day change | +0.66% | -0.23% |
| YTD return | +18.08% | -21.64% |
| 1-year return | +19.03% | -25.41% |
| 5-year return | -2.60% | +3.41% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 42.17 | 28.47 |
| Forward P/E | 13.63 | 16.45 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.30 | $9.65 |
| Dividend yield | 2.31% | 1.27% |
| Annual dividend | $4.19 | $3.48 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $21.84B | $25.12B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.24% | +11.16% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.68B | $3.25B |
| Gross margin | 45.44% | 63.96% |
| Operating margin | 11.81% | 19.47% |
| Net margin | 7.68% | 12.92% |
| 52-week high | $193.07 | $392.55 |
| 52-week low | $127.59 | $267.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.07% | -30.01% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +7.02% | +33.26% |
| Average volume | 1.79M | 2.62M |
| Shares outstanding | 272.39M | 383.57M |
| Employees | 72,000 | 56,000 |
| 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
- Stryker is about 2.1 times larger than Becton Dickinson by market value ($105.39B vs $49.40B).
- BDX has outperformed SYK by 44.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Becton Dickinson trades at a higher earnings multiple (42.2x vs 28.5x trailing P/E).
- Becton Dickinson offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.31% vs 1.27%).
- Stryker is more profitable, keeping 12.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 7.7 cents for Becton Dickinson.
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 Stryker
SYK stock →Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 56,000 employees
BDX vs SYK FAQ
Which is bigger, Becton Dickinson or Stryker?
Stryker (SYK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $105.39B compared with $49.40B for Becton Dickinson (BDX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BDX or SYK?
BDX returned +19.03% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.41% for SYK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BDX or SYK?
SYK has the lower trailing P/E at 28.5, versus 42.2 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 Stryker?
Becton Dickinson has the higher yield at 2.31%, compared with 1.27% for Stryker.
Are Becton Dickinson and Stryker in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical/Dental Instruments industry within the Health Care sector.