Baxter International Inc vs Kimberly Clark Corp — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $21.87 (market cap $11.26B), while Kimberly Clark Corp trades at $106.76 (market cap $35.46B). The key difference: Kimberly Clark Corp is far larger — about 3.1× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and Kimberly Clark Corp pays the higher dividend (4.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | KMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.26B | $35.46B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $29.22 | $136.77 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $93.05 |
Enterprise Value | $18.93B | $42.00B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 4.79% |
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.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) trades at $110.18, down 1.98% on the day, with strong technical support at $108 and resistance at $114. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating expectations at $1.97 versus $1.93, maintaining a consistent earnings beat streak. Recent business developments include the Arbex joint venture launch and pending Kenvue acquisition, positioning for strategic growth in the consumer goods sector.
KMB offers stable dividend income with a 4.5% yield and strong profitability metrics (12.8% net margin, 146.29% ROE), though elevated P/E (21.31) and P/B (20.36) ratios suggest premium valuation. Risks include consumer sentiment pressures and input cost inflation, but analyst consensus targets $112.33 with 32% buy ratings supporting moderate upside potential from current levels.
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 →With around half of sales from personal care and another third from tissue products, Kimberly-Clark sits as a leading manufacturer of tissue and hygiene realm. Its brand mix includes Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, and Cottonelle. The firm also operates K-C Professional, which partners with businesses to provide safety and sanitary products for the workplace. Kimberly-Clark generates just over of half its sales in North America and more than 10% in Europe, with the rest primarily concentrated in Asia and Latin America.
Read more on KMB →