IRTC vs HOLX vs BDX vs DXCM

For growth investors, iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

(IRTC) is the stronger pick with 26. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). 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 iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (IRTC) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 Hologic, Inc. at 30. 5x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 12. 3x. 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 DexCom, Inc. 's 2. 34x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

(IRTC) delivered a total return of +56. 1%, compared to -32. 1% for DexCom, Inc. (DXCM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IRTC returned +379. 3% versus BDX's +80. 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), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus DexCom, Inc. 's 1. 06β — meaning DXCM is approximately 159% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, DexCom, Inc. (DXCM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 5% for iRhythm Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

(IRTC) is pulling ahead at 26. 2% versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: iRhythm Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 61. 7% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IRTC leads at 22. 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.

DexCom, Inc.

(DXCM) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 9% net margin versus -6. 0% for iRhythm Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DXCM leads at 19. 6% versus -4. 9% for IRTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IRTC leads at 70. 6%, 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 DexCom, Inc. 's 2. 34x. 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 12. 3x forward P/E versus 24. 5x for DexCom, Inc. — 12. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IRTC: 55. 1% to $193. 67.

In this comparison, BDX (2.

7% yield) pays a dividend. IRTC, HOLX, DXCM do 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. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BDX: +80. 2%, DXCM: +290. 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.

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: IRTC is a small-cap high-growth stock; HOLX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DXCM is a mid-cap high-growth stock. BDX pays a dividend while IRTC, HOLX, DXCM 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.