Becton Dickinson and Co vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $154.29 (market cap $41.51B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $469.56 (market cap $20.17B). The key difference: Becton Dickinson and Co is far larger — about 2.1× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays a 2.79% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BDX | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $41.51B | $20.17B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $185.39 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $135.49 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $57.97B | $22.25B |
Dividend Yield | 2.79% | — |
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.
ULTA trades at $473.33, up 0.88% today, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74, beating expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a 39.33% gross margin and 47.45% ROE. Recent news highlights international expansion and a partnership with Bath & Body Works, while analyst consensus remains strongly positive with a $623.73 price target.
ULTA presents a compelling investment case with robust fundamentals and growth initiatives, though risks include competitive pressures and potential margin compression. The stock's current valuation below analyst targets suggests upside potential, supported by strong loyalty program engagement and strategic expansions.
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 →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →