Baxter International Inc vs PepsiCo, Inc. — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $21.97 (market cap $11.26B), while PepsiCo, Inc. trades at $135.11 (market cap $184.87B). The key difference: PepsiCo, Inc. is far larger — about 16.4× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and PepsiCo, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.37%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | PEP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.26B | $184.87B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $29.22 | $170.44 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $133.81 |
Enterprise Value | $18.93B | $227.37B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 4.37% |
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.
PepsiCo (PEP) trades at $135.11, down 2.44% over the past day, with a bearish technical outlook. The stock shows strong profitability with a 10.78% net income margin and 51.59% ROE, though revenue growth remains modest. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and the company maintains a solid dividend. However, price pressures on snacks and high debt levels pose challenges. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $159.27 price target, indicating potential upside from current levels.
The outlook for PEP is mixed: fundamentals are robust with earnings beats and high returns, but technicals and sentiment are cautious. Investment opportunity lies in valuation discount to analyst targets and dividend yield, while risks include consumer pushback on pricing, competitive pressures, and leverage. Near-term performance hinges on Q3 2026 earnings and North American segment recovery.
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 →PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies globally. It makes, markets, and sells a slew of brands across the beverage and snack categories, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Lays, and Ruffles. The firm uses a largely integrated go-to-market model, though it does leverage third-party bottlers, contract manufacturers, and distributors in certain markets. In addition to company-owned trademarks, Pepsi manufactures and distributes other brands through partnerships and joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks. The firm segments its operations into five primary geographies, with North America (comprising Frito-Lay North America, Quaker Foods North America, and North America beverages) constituting around 60% of consolidated revenue.
Read more on PEP →