A O Smith Corp vs Becton Dickinson and Co — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $62.66 (market cap $8.65B), while Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $181.66 (market cap $49.41B). The key difference: Becton Dickinson and Co is far larger — about 5.7× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays the higher dividend (2.32%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | BDX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $49.41B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $185.39 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $138.62 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $65.51B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 2.32% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS) trades at $62.47, showing modest daily gains. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals, though RSI levels suggest potential near-term overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company maintains solid profitability with a net income margin of 13.15% and ROE of 27.13%, supported by consistent revenue around $3.8 billion. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, but Q1 2026 was a miss, reflecting some volatility. A quarterly dividend of $0.36 provides income appeal.
The outlook for AOS is cautiously optimistic, with a consensus price target of $67.25 implying upside potential. Strengths include robust cash flow from operations and high return metrics. Key risks involve exposure to input cost pressures, competitive markets, and mixed quarterly earnings performance. Investor sentiment is balanced, with analyst ratings leaning Hold. The stock presents a value opportunity for those comfortable with industrial sector cyclicality.
BDX trades at $180.64, up 0.56% today, near its consensus price target of $183. The stock shows bullish technical signals with strong moving averages and recent earnings beats in Q2 2026. Revenue growth is steady, with Q3 2026 reaching $5 billion, though margins face pressure from tariffs. The company maintains a Dividend Aristocrat status with consistent payouts.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with analyst consensus leaning buy, but risks include margin compression and debt levels. The stock offers stability through dividends and sector resilience, yet investors should monitor earnings sustainability and competitive threats in the medical technology space.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →Becton, Dickinson is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of medical surgical products, such as needles, syringes, and sharps-disposal units. The company also manufactures diagnostic instruments and reagents, as well as flow cytometry and cell-imaging systems. BD Interventional (largely the former Bard business) accounts for 23% of revenue. International revenue accounts for 44% of the company's business.
Read more on BDX →