Baxter International Inc vs QUALCOMM, Inc. — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $21.78 (market cap $11.66B), while QUALCOMM, Inc. trades at $180.03 (market cap $193.91B). The key difference: QUALCOMM, Inc. is far larger — about 16.6× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and QUALCOMM, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.66B | $193.91B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $29.22 | $251.10 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $124.07 |
Enterprise Value | $19.33B | $199.39B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 2% |
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.
Qualcomm (QCOM) trades at $178.08, down 5.86% over 24 hours, with a bearish technical signal and mixed sentiment. The stock shows strong profitability with a 22.31% net income margin and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights its AI and data center diversification amid smartphone market challenges, with CEO Cristiano Amon projecting 'multiple billions' in data center revenue ahead (MarketBeat, June 2, 2026).
The outlook balances growth in AI and automotive against near-term margin pressures and competition. Analysts see upside to a $222.53 consensus target, but risks include Nvidia's entry into PC chips and soft smartphone demand. The stock offers value at a P/E of 19.78, with dividends providing income support.
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 →Qualcomm develops and licenses wireless technology and designs chips for smartphones. The company's key patents revolve around CDMA and OFDMA technologies, which are standards in wireless communications that are the backbone of all 3G and 4G networks. The firm is a leader in 5G network technology as well. Qualcomm's IP is licensed by virtually all wireless device makers. The firm is also the world's largest wireless chip vendor, supplying nearly every premier handset maker with leading-edge processors. Qualcomm also sells RF-front end modules into smartphones and chips into automotive and Internet of Things markets.
Read more on QCOM →