Price movement over the last 24 hours
A O Smith Corp vs Becton Dickinson and Co — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $61 (market cap $8.33B), while Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $151.94 (market cap $41.87B). The key difference: Becton Dickinson and Co is far larger — about 5× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays the higher dividend (2.76%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | BDX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.33B | $41.87B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $185.39 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $135.49 |
Enterprise Value | $8.78B | $58.33B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 2.76% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith (AOS) trades at $60.44, up 2.41% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent leadership changes. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $0.85 versus $0.94 expected, while maintaining solid profitability with a 13.84% net margin. Cash flow trends show improving operations, and the stock offers a dividend with a recent $0.36 payout announced.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and bearish technicals, but valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 16.12. Risks include China market weakness and competitive pressures, while analyst consensus leans hold with a $68 price target suggesting modest upside potential from current levels.
BDX trades at $151.94, up 0.72% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock is supported by consistent revenue growth, reaching $21.84B in 2025, and a forward P/E of 26.52. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $173.40 price target, and the company maintains a solid dividend, recently paying $1.05 per share. Cash flow trends show variability, with 2025 net cash flow negative $1.00B, though 2026 projects a positive $346M.
The outlook for BDX balances strong fundamentals against near-term headwinds. Revenue growth and strategic positioning in medical technology offer upside, but investor sentiment is cautious due to bearish technicals and margin pressures. Risks include hospital spending caution and competitive dynamics. The stock presents a hold case for long-term investors, with potential catalysts from continued earnings outperformance and innovation in healthcare technology.
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 →