Baxter International Inc vs Johnson & Johnson — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $27.21 (market cap $14.27B), while Johnson & Johnson trades at $261.22 (market cap $626.09B). The key difference: Johnson & Johnson is far larger — about 43.9× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and Johnson & Johnson pays the higher dividend (2.06%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | JNJ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.27B | $626.09B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $28.35 | $267.24 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $172.78 |
Enterprise Value | $21.79B | $654.37B |
Dividend Yield | 0.14% | 2.06% |
Volume | — | 6,156,228 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Baxter International (BAX) trades at $27.22, down 2.02% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong recent earnings beats. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.56, beating expectations of $0.3665, and raised full-year guidance. Despite negative net income margins and high P/E of 87.85, cash flow trends improved with 2026 net cash flow projected at $468 million. Recent news highlights a 7.4% surge on August 3, 2026, following positive quarterly results and a cash tender offer announcement.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic due to earnings momentum and raised guidance, but high valuation and persistent negative profitability pose risks. Analyst consensus is mixed with 41.67% buy ratings, a $25.43 price target, and institutional activity showing volatility. Key risks include margin pressures and debt levels, though operational improvements may support recovery.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) trades at $260.88, down 0.36% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a net margin of 21.48% and ROE of 25.74%, though valuations like a P/E of 30.14 appear elevated. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026, and the company maintains a 64-year dividend growth streak, with analyst consensus leaning bullish.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $284.50, offering potential upside, but risks include legal challenges and high debt-to-asset ratio of 24.06% in 2025. Investors benefit from steady dividends and defensive positioning in healthcare, though valuation multiples may limit near-term gains amid economic uncertainty.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Johnson & Johnson manufactures health care products and provides related services for the consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical devices and diagnostics markets. The Company sells products such as skin and hair care products, acetaminophen products, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic equipment, and surgical equipment in countries located around the world.
Read more on JNJ →