BDX vs TMO

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 9% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO). Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) offers the better valuation at 24. 7x trailing P/E (11. 5x 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, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is the cheapest at 24.

7x versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. at 26. 3x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 11. 5x. 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 8. 90x — 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 +6.

0%, compared to +1. 3% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMO returned +229. 0% versus BDX's +72. 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), Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning TMO is approximately 67% more volatile than BDX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 76% versus 76% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. — 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. 9% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. grew EPS 7. 3% 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.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

(TMO) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 1% net margin versus 7. 7% for Becton, Dickinson and Company — meaning it keeps 15. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TMO leads at 18. 2% versus 11. 8% for BDX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BDX leads at 45. 4%, 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 8. 90x. 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. 5x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. — 7. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TMO: 40. 3% to $654. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 0. 4% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO).

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

66), 2. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BDX: +72. 0%, TMO: +229. 0%), 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.

BDX pays a dividend while TMO does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.