ICUI vs AVA vs BDX vs POR

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 4% for ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI). Avista Corporation (AVA) offers the better valuation at 17. 2x trailing P/E (15. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the cheapest at 17.

2x versus ICU Medical, Inc. at 4300. 3x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 11. 9x — 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. 72x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 41x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Portland General Electric Company (POR) delivered a total return of +15.

2%, compared to -36. 8% for ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BDX returned +76. 4% versus ICUI's +22. 2%. 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), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

01β versus ICU Medical, Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning ICUI is approximately -9564% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 134% for Portland General Electric 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 -6. 4% for ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ICU Medical, Inc. grew EPS 100. 6% year-over-year, compared to -8. 3% for Portland General Electric Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, POR leads at 8. 4% 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.

Avista Corporation (AVA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

8% net margin versus 0. 0% for ICU Medical, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVA leads at 18. 0% versus 4. 8% for ICUI. 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. 72x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 41x. 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. 9x forward P/E versus 15. 7x for Avista Corporation — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICUI: 29. 3% to $163. 50.

In this comparison, AVA (4.

8% yield), POR (4. 2% yield), BDX (2. 8% yield) pay a dividend. ICUI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

01), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +39. 7%, ICUI: +22. 2%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ICUI (Healthcare) and AVA (Utilities) and BDX (Healthcare) and POR (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ICUI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AVA is a small-cap deep-value stock; BDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; POR is a small-cap deep-value stock. AVA, BDX, POR pay a dividend while ICUI 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.