IART vs HOLX vs BDX vs NTRA vs SYK

For growth investors, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is the stronger pick with 35. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 5% for Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART). Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) offers the better valuation at 26. 3x trailing P/E (12. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 26.

3x versus Stryker Corporation at 35. 0x. On forward P/E, Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 5. 8x — 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. 74x versus Stryker Corporation's 1. 32x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) delivered a total return of +115. 9%, compared to -81. 7% for Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NTRA returned +20. 9% versus IART's -63. 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), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation's 2. 34β — meaning IART is approximately 469% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Natera, Inc. (NTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 195% for Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is pulling ahead at 35. 9% versus 1. 5% for Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stryker Corporation grew EPS 8. 2% year-over-year, compared to -73. 6% for Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, NTRA leads at 41. 1% 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 -31. 6% for Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYK leads at 19. 5% versus -13. 4% for NTRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NTRA leads at 64. 8%, 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. 74x versus Stryker Corporation's 1. 32x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART) trades at 5. 8x forward P/E versus 19. 6x for Stryker Corporation — 13. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SYK: 37. 2% to $403. 69.

In this comparison, BDX (2.

7% yield), SYK (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. IART, HOLX, NTRA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

55), 1. 1% yield, +187. 1% 10Y return). Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART) carries a higher beta of 2. 34 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYK: +187. 1%, IART: -63. 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.

In terms of investment character: IART is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HOLX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NTRA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; SYK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. BDX, SYK pay a dividend while IART, HOLX, NTRA do 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.