Becton Dickinson and Co vs Humana Inc — how do they compare? Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $155.01 (market cap $41.51B), while Humana Inc trades at $407.45 (market cap $48.84B). The key difference: Humana Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays the higher dividend (2.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BDX | HUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $41.51B | $48.84B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $185.39 | $409.42 |
52-Week Low | $135.49 | $163.67 |
Enterprise Value | $57.97B | $57.88B |
Dividend Yield | 2.79% | 0.87% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BDX trades at $153.83, up 1.24% today, with technical indicators showing a neutral to bullish bias. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.90 exceeding expectations. Revenue growth remains steady, reaching $21.84B in 2025, though net margins have compressed to 5.12%. Recent news highlights BDX's innovation in medical technology and positive analyst sentiment.
The outlook for BDX appears balanced. Upside potential exists from continued earnings beats and strategic positioning in growing healthcare segments like GLP-1 drug support equipment. However, risks include margin pressure, elevated debt levels, and cautious hospital spending. The consensus price target of $173.40 suggests moderate upside from current levels.
Humana (HUM) trades at $406.00, up 3.51% with strong technical bullish signals and recent earnings beats. The stock shows robust revenue growth reaching $129.66 billion in 2025, though net margins have compressed to 0.82%. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 32% buy ratings but a consensus price target of $354.33 below current levels. Recent developments include Medicare Advantage margin targets and Illinois Medicaid contract wins.
The outlook remains cautious despite operational strengths. While CenterWell expansion and margin recovery plans offer upside, current valuation at 43x P/E appears stretched relative to earnings growth. Key risks include regulatory scrutiny, healthcare utilization costs, and ongoing insider trading investigations that could pressure shareholder returns.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Becton, Dickinson is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of medical surgical products, such as needles, syringes, and sharps-disposal units. The company also manufactures diagnostic instruments and reagents, as well as flow cytometry and cell-imaging systems. BD Interventional (largely the former Bard business) accounts for 23% of revenue. International revenue accounts for 44% of the company's business.
Read more on BDX →Humana is one of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. The firm has built a niche specializing in government-sponsored programs, with nearly all its medical membership stemming from individual and group Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the military's Tricare program. The firm is also a leader in stand-alone prescription drug plans for seniors enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Humana offers employer-based plans primarily for small businesses along with specialty insurance offerings such as dental, vision, and life. Beyond medical insurance, the company provides other healthcare services, including primary-care services, at-home services, and pharmacy benefit management.
Read more on HUM →