BDX

We rate BECTON DICKINSON & CO (BDX) as a Hold with a composite score of 56.6/100 at a current price of $182.90. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in value (87th percentile) and quality (75th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in momentum (39th percentile) and investment (43th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (39/100), Medium uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs; balance sheet deleveraging progress. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

BECTON DICKINSON & CO holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 56.6/100 places it at rank #1080 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $53.4B market capitalization, BECTON DICKINSON & CO operates at meaningful scale within the Manufacturing sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

Revenue is growing at 5%, though momentum at the 39th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 45% (+2.4pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 11% (+10.1pp vs sector) and net margins of 7.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 16%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $182.90, BECTON DICKINSON & CO appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 87/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 33.6x (a 51% premium to the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 21.7x (at a premium), P/B of 2.1x, P/S of 2.5x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to BECTON DICKINSON & CO. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: significant leverage (117% debt-to-equity) and low beta of 0.60 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (117% debt-to-equity); low beta of 0.60 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 74th percentile and quality factor at the 75th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 45% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (74th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; large-cap scale ($53.4B) provides resilience. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate BECTON DICKINSON & CO's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include suboptimal returns on capital. Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — BECTON DICKINSON & CO significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, BECTON DICKINSON & CO receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 56.6/100 (rank #1080 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (39/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 64/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on BECTON DICKINSON & CO. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.