Becton Dickinson and Co vs UnitedHealth Group Inc — how do they compare? Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $182.47 (market cap $49.41B), while UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $405.98 (market cap $361.00B). The key difference: UnitedHealth Group Inc is far larger — about 7.3× Becton Dickinson and Co's market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays the higher dividend (2.32%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BDX | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $49.41B | $361.00B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $185.39 | $436.35 |
52-Week Low | $138.62 | $259.02 |
Enterprise Value | $65.51B | $402.86B |
Dividend Yield | 2.32% | 2.31% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BDX trades at $180.64, up 0.56% today, near its consensus price target of $183. The stock shows bullish technical signals with strong moving averages and recent earnings beats in Q2 2026. Revenue growth is steady, with Q3 2026 reaching $5 billion, though margins face pressure from tariffs. The company maintains a Dividend Aristocrat status with consistent payouts.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with analyst consensus leaning buy, but risks include margin compression and debt levels. The stock offers stability through dividends and sector resilience, yet investors should monitor earnings sustainability and competitive threats in the medical technology space.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $408.74, showing modest daily gains of 0.41% amid a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamental performance with consistent earnings beats in recent quarters and robust analyst support (82.7% buy ratings). Recent developments include dividend payments and strategic initiatives to streamline pediatric care authorizations, positioning UNH well in the healthcare sector.
UNH presents a compelling investment case with strong cash flow generation and market leadership, though investors face risks from regulatory scrutiny and margin compression. The stock trades at a discount to analyst consensus target of $476.50, offering potential upside if operational improvements and growth initiatives materialize as projected.
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 →UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to 50 million members globally, including 5 million outside the U.S. at the end of 2021. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Read more on UNH →