HOLX vs BDX

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) offers the better valuation at 24. 8x trailing P/E (11. 6x 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.

8x versus Hologic, Inc. at 30. 5x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 11. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) delivered a total return of +16. 7%, compared to +10. 4% for Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HOLX returned +125. 4% versus BDX's +72. 9%. 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), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Becton, Dickinson and Company's 0. 66β — meaning BDX is approximately 60% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% 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 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Becton, Dickinson and Company grew EPS -0. 5% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. 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.

Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 8% net margin versus 7. 7% for Becton, Dickinson and Company — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HOLX leads at 17. 4% versus 11. 8% for BDX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HOLX leads at 61. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) trades at 11.

6x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Hologic, Inc. — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BDX: 19. 4% to $172. 85.

In this comparison, BDX (2.

9% yield) pays a dividend. HOLX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 9%, HOLX: +125. 4%), 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 HOLX 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.