BDX vs MDT

For growth investors, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is the stronger pick with 8.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 6% for Medtronic plc (MDT). Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the better valuation at 21. 5x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the cheapest at 21.

5x versus Becton, Dickinson and Company at 24. 8x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 11. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Becton, Dickinson and Company wins at 0. 70x versus Medtronic plc's 35. 84x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) delivered a total return of +10.

4%, compared to -28. 3% for Medtronic plc (MDT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BDX returned +72. 9% versus MDT's +27. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Medtronic plc (MDT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

47β versus Becton, Dickinson and Company's 0. 66β — meaning BDX is approximately 41% more volatile than MDT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Medtronic plc (MDT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 76% for Becton, Dickinson and Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is pulling ahead at 8.

2% versus 3. 6% for Medtronic plc (MDT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Medtronic plc grew EPS 30. 8% year-over-year, compared to -0. 5% for Becton, Dickinson and Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, BDX leads at 5. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Medtronic plc (MDT) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

9% net margin versus 7. 7% for Becton, Dickinson and Company — meaning it keeps 13. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MDT leads at 17. 8% versus 11. 8% for BDX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MDT leads at 65. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 70x versus Medtronic plc's 35. 84x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) trades at 11. 6x forward P/E versus 14. 1x for Medtronic plc — 2. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MDT: 41. 1% to $109. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 2. 9% for Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

47), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDT: +27. 0%, BDX: +72. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: BDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MDT is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.