Becton Dickinson and Co vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $149.95 (market cap $41.51B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $124.65 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 7.2× Becton Dickinson and Co's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.82%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BDX | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $41.51B | $298.31B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $185.39 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $135.49 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $57.97B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | 2.79% | 2.82% |
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.
Merck (MRK) trades at $124.03, up 0.4% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $137.30. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of -$1.28 beating expectations, and maintains robust profitability with a net income margin of 13.59%. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives amid a competitive pharmaceutical landscape.
The outlook for MRK is positive, driven by earnings momentum and strategic acquisitions, but risks include rising debt levels and patent expirations. Institutional buying activity supports bullish sentiment, though investors should monitor execution risks and macroeconomic pressures affecting the healthcare sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →