Baxter International Inc vs Halliburton Company — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $21.78 (market cap $11.26B), while Halliburton Company trades at $35.52 (market cap $29.59B). The key difference: Halliburton Company is far larger — about 2.6× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and Halliburton Company pays the higher dividend (1.92%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | HAL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.26B | $29.59B |
Sector | Health | Energy |
52-Week High | $29.22 | $42.98 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $20.50 |
Enterprise Value | $18.93B | $35.67B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 1.92% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Baxter International (BAX) trades at $22.57, down 0.22% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing a bullish moving average trend but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings beat with $0.36 EPS versus $0.31 expected, though net income margin remains negative at -9.7%. Recent news highlights upcoming Q2 earnings call and sustainability initiatives, while analyst consensus sits at $22.67 price target with 42% buy ratings.
BAX faces fundamental challenges with negative profitability metrics and volatile cash flow, but valuation appears reasonable with P/S of 1.02. The stock offers potential upside to analyst targets if operational improvements materialize, though investors must weigh high debt levels and inconsistent earnings performance against turnaround prospects in the medical technology sector.
Halliburton (HAL) trades at $35.21, up 2.38% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. Recent earnings beats and a major contract win offshore Suriname highlight operational strength, though net income declined in 2025. The stock shows solid profitability with a 6.95% net margin and 14.56% ROE, supported by positive cash flow trends into 2026.
The outlook remains positive given analyst targets near $44.78 and ongoing energy sector tailwinds, but risks include oil price volatility and execution challenges. Earnings growth and contract execution are key catalysts for further upside, balancing macroeconomic and competitive pressures.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Baxter offers a variety of medical instruments and supplies to caregivers. It enhanced its portfolio of hospital-focused offerings by acquiring Hillrom in late 2021. Legacy Baxter offers tools to help patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. It also sells a variety of injectable therapies for use in care settings, such as IV pumps, and administrative sets.
Read more on BAX →Halliburton is one of the three largest oilfield service firms in the world, offering superior expertise in a number of business lines, including completion fluids, wireline services, cementing, and countless others. It's the number one pressure pumper in North America, and has been a leading innovator in hydraulic fracturing over the last two decades.
Read more on HAL →