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A vs BDX
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Agilent Technologies (A) vs. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both A and BDX operate in the healthcare and life sciences sectors but differ in focus: A emphasizes analytical instruments while BDX centers on medical devices and consumables.
- A shares have declined about 15% year-to-date amid softer demand in life sciences, contrasting with BDX's milder 1.5% YTD drop.
- Recent quarterly results show resilience: A reported core revenue growth of 4.4%, while BDX posted a Q1 earnings per share (EPS, a measure of profitability per share) beat with revenue up slightly.
- BDX benefits from recurring consumables revenue (over 90% post-spin-off), offering stability versus A's exposure to cyclical R&D spending.
- Analyst price targets suggest upside for both, with A around 40% and BDX near 30% from current levels.
- Tickeron's AI tools highlight sector momentum in related areas like semiconductors and biotech, relevant to both stocks' growth drivers.
Introduction
This comparison examines A (Agilent Technologies) and BDX (Becton, Dickinson and Company), two leaders in healthcare technology. Investors tracking life sciences and medical devices may find value in understanding their relative performance amid market volatility. Recent weeks have seen both stocks face pressure from sector headwinds like research funding slowdowns and reimbursement uncertainties, yet each offers distinct exposure to biopharma innovation and diagnostics. Traders seeking momentum plays or long-term stability can assess trade-offs in growth, margins, and risk profiles.
A Overview and Recent Performance
Agilent Technologies (A) provides analytical instruments, software, and services for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied markets including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and semiconductors. In recent market activity, shares have traded around $115, down approximately 15% year-to-date and 28% from 52-week highs near $160. This reflects broader softness in life sciences R&D spending and delays in end-market recovery.
Q1 fiscal 2026 results showed revenue of $1.8 billion, up 4.4% on a core basis (adjusted for acquisitions and currency), though slightly missing expectations. EPS came in at $1.36 amid margin pressures from investments in growth areas. Sentiment has been influenced by concerns over China demand and cyclical exposure, offset by strengths in cell and gene therapy tools and semiconductor testing. Broader trends like biopharma expansion and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) testing provide tailwinds, supporting raised full-year guidance.
BDX Overview and Recent Performance
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is a global medical technology firm focused on devices, instrument systems, and reagents across diagnostics, intervention, and surgery. Shares recently closed near $149, with a year-to-date gain of 1.5% but down from 52-week highs above $187, reflecting share price weakness over recent months.
Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue reached $5.25 billion, up 0.4% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS of $2.91 beating estimates. Growth stemmed from new products in pharmacy automation and vascular access, though offset by diagnostics normalization delays. Key influences include a planned spin-off of its Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions unit, aiming for a pure-play medtech focus with high-margin consumables. Momentum drivers like biologics delivery and patient safety innovations bolster positioning, despite tariff risks and China procurement pressures.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
A and BDX share healthcare exposure but contrast in business models: A's capital-intensive instruments tie to R&D cycles, while BDX's consumables (post-spin-off over 90% of revenue) drive recurring stability. Growth drivers differ—A leverages genomics and semis, BDX biologics and vascular tech—yet both face reimbursement and China risks.
Recent momentum favors neither strongly: A shows volatility from earnings misses, BDX from guidance cuts. A trades at a forward P/E around 20x with higher growth potential but cyclical risks; BDX at 24x offers dividends and scale (market cap $42B vs. $32B). Sector sentiment tilts toward medtech resilience over pure diagnostics amid funding squeezes.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently leans toward BDX for its relative stability, earnings beats, and consumables-driven cash flows positioning it better through volatility. While A holds upside from biopharma catalysts, BDX's post-spin focus and analyst targets suggest higher probability of outperformance in the near term, based on trend consistency and lower cyclicality.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is A is a Hold and BDX is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
A’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileBDX’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- A’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- BDX’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
A’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while BDX’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- A’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- BDX’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 7 bearish.
Price Growth
A (@Medical Specialties) experienced а -3.14% price change this week, while BDX (@Pharmaceuticals: Other) price change was -3.31% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was +0.45%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.48%, and the average quarterly price growth was -3.19%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Other industry was -2.31%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.98%, and the average quarterly price growth was -14.76%.
Reported Earning Dates
A is expected to report earnings on Aug 18, 2026.
BDX is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Specialties (+0.45% weekly)Medical specialties are companies that make equipment used by the health care industry. Equipment manufactured and distributed by these companies include dialysis machines, blood analysis equipment, surgical equipment, dental instruments, and diagnostic tools, among other items. Large companies typically aim to produce and distribute high-quality products across a broad market spectrum. Smaller firms are more likely to specialize in a particular market segment. Due to the industry’s close association with medical treatments, they typically have low sensitivity to macroeconomic fluctuations. Within this industry, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. are some of the companies with multi-billion market capitalizations in the U.S. stock markets.
@Pharmaceuticals: Other (-2.31% weekly)Pharmaceuticals (Other) comprise companies that are involved in the discovery, development or manufacturing of therapeutic and preventative medicines. They often collaborate with or acquire other pharmaceutical/healthcare firms. Examples of companies in this segment include Bausch Health Companies Inc., Icon Plc and Perrigo Company Plc.
| A | BDX | A / BDX | |
| Capitalization | 35.7B | 38.8B | 92% |
| EBITDA | 1.96B | 4.97B | 39% |
| Gain YTD | -6.662 | -6.559 | 102% |
| P/E Ratio | 25.40 | 24.56 | 103% |
| Revenue | 7.23B | 22.2B | 33% |
| Total Cash | 1.81B | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 3.36B | 17.3B | 19% |
A | BDX | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 91 | 63 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 6 Undervalued | 5 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 44 | 87 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 47 | 58 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 76 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
BDX's Valuation (5) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as A (6) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that BDX’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
BDX's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as A (100) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that BDX’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
A's SMR Rating (44) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for BDX (87) in the Medical Specialties industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than BDX’s over the last 12 months.
A's Price Growth Rating (47) in the Biotechnology industry is in the same range as BDX (58) in the Medical Specialties industry. This means that A’s stock grew similarly to BDX’s over the last 12 months.
A's P/E Growth Rating (62) in the Biotechnology industry is in the same range as BDX (76) in the Medical Specialties industry. This means that A’s stock grew similarly to BDX’s over the last 12 months.
| A | BDX | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 54% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 46% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 41% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 44% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 44% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 60% | 19 days ago 43% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 62% | 8 days ago 43% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 52% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 36% |
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BDX and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, BDX has been loosely correlated with COO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 53% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if BDX jumps, then COO could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To BDX | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDX | 100% | -2.27% | ||
| COO - BDX | 53% Loosely correlated | -0.74% | ||
| TMO - BDX | 50% Loosely correlated | -0.13% | ||
| CNMD - BDX | 48% Loosely correlated | -0.12% | ||
| BAX - BDX | 46% Loosely correlated | -1.16% | ||
| RVTY - BDX | 45% Loosely correlated | -0.96% | ||
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