Becton Dickinson and Co vs Palo Alto Networks Inc — how do they compare? Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $181.29 (market cap $48.93B), while Palo Alto Networks Inc trades at $384.92 (market cap $313.81B). The key difference: Palo Alto Networks Inc is far larger — about 6.4× Becton Dickinson and Co's market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays a 2.34% dividend while Palo Alto Networks Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BDX | PANW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $48.93B | $313.81B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $185.39 | $385.04 |
52-Week Low | $138.62 | $141.67 |
Enterprise Value | $65.03B | $312.77B |
Dividend Yield | 2.34% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BDX (Becton, Dickinson and Company) trades at $176.86, down 0.12% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company reported Q3 2026 revenue of $5.0 billion, up 4.4% FX-neutral, and raised full-year guidance, though margins faced pressure. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a consensus price target of $183.00, while institutional ownership remains stable amid positive news on GLP-1 therapy expansions and dividend declarations.
The stock offers steady growth potential with a 2.7% dividend yield and consistent earnings outperformance, but risks include margin compression, regulatory recalls, and high valuation multiples. Near-term resistance at $180 and support at $173 will test bullish momentum, with the current price near the consensus target suggesting limited upside without further catalysts.
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) trades at $363.86, up 1.22% today, near its pivot point of $365. The stock shows strong bullish momentum with consistent earnings beats and robust revenue growth, reaching $9.22 billion in fiscal 2025. Technical indicators signal bullish trends, while high valuation ratios like a P/E of 316.4 reflect market optimism. Recent news highlights AI-driven cybersecurity demand and record stock performance following industry events.
Outlook remains positive due to AI security tailwinds and earnings strength, but risks include premium valuation, integration costs from acquisitions, and regulatory scrutiny in China. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $344.94 price target, though current price exceeds this, suggesting cautious optimism for growth-driven upside.
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 →Palo Alto Networks is a pure-play cybersecurity vendor that sells security appliances, subscriptions, and support into enterprises, government entities, and service providers. The company's product portfolio includes firewall appliances, virtual firewalls, endpoint protection, cloud security, and cybersecurity analytics. The Santa Clara, California, firm was established in 2005 and sells its products worldwide.
Read more on PANW →