Becton Dickinson and Co vs Old Dominion Freight Line Inc — how do they compare? Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $154.8 (market cap $41.51B), while Old Dominion Freight Line Inc trades at $227.53 (market cap $47.55B). The key difference: Becton Dickinson and Co and Old Dominion Freight Line Inc are close in size by market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays the higher dividend (2.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BDX | ODFL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $41.51B | $47.55B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $185.39 | $248.73 |
52-Week Low | $135.49 | $126.29 |
Enterprise Value | $57.97B | $47.30B |
Dividend Yield | 2.79% | 0.51% |
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.
ODFL trades at $232.9, up 2.32% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and oscillators. The company maintains strong profitability with an 18.46% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights improving LTL freight demand and a disciplined capital allocation strategy.
Outlook remains positive due to operational strength and market share gains, but elevated valuation multiples and competitive pressures from players like Amazon pose risks. The stock's proximity to its consensus price target of $232.20 suggests limited near-term upside, requiring careful monitoring of Q2 2026 earnings due July 29, 2026.
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 →Old Dominion Freight Line is the fourth-largest less-than-truckload carrier in the United States, with more than 240 service centers and 9,200-plus tractors. OD is by far one of the most disciplined and efficient providers in the trucking industry, and its profitability and capital returns stand head and shoulders above its peers. Strategic initiatives revolve around increasing network density through market share gains and maintaining industry-leading service via consistent infrastructure investment.
Read more on ODFL →