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ABT vs BAX
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Baxter International (BAX) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- ABT trades near its 52-week low of $89.14, down approximately 28% year-to-date (YTD), reflecting pressures in nutrition amid broader market challenges.
- BAX hovers around $17.21, down over 43% over the past year but up about 9% in the recent month following Q1 earnings beat.
- Both stocks reported Q1 2026 earnings beats—ABT with $11.2B revenue and $1.15 EPS (earnings per share), BAX $2.7B revenue and $0.36 adjusted EPS—but shares faced post-earnings selling.
- ABT's market cap exceeds $155B versus BAX's $8.9B, highlighting scale differences in the medtech sector.
- Recent FDA clearances bolster ABT's device pipeline, while BAX reaffirms turnaround guidance amid margin pressures.
Introduction
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter International (BAX) are prominent players in the healthcare equipment and medtech sectors, both navigating volatile market conditions. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, business drivers, and relative positioning to aid investors and traders evaluating opportunities in medical devices and diagnostics. With both firms reporting Q1 earnings amid sector headwinds, understanding their momentum, catalysts, and risks supports informed decisions on relative performance and market positioning.
ABT Overview and Recent Performance
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is a diversified global healthcare company focused on diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition, and established pharmaceuticals. In recent market activity, ABT shares have declined sharply, trading around $89.46 near the 52-week low, with a roughly 28% YTD drop and 13% pullback in recent weeks. Q1 2026 results showed 3.7% comparable sales growth to $11.2B and adjusted EPS of $1.15, beating estimates, driven by 9% medical device growth. However, nutrition segment weakness contributed to post-earnings selling. Sentiment has been influenced by FDA clearances for Ultreon 3.0 AI imaging and heart rhythm tech data, signaling innovation but overshadowed by broader valuation pressures.
BAX Overview and Recent Performance
Baxter International (BAX) specializes in medtech products including renal care, surgical equipment, and pharmacy solutions. Shares recently traded at $17.21, down 43% over the past year but up 9% in the recent month after Q1 earnings. Q1 2026 delivered $2.7B revenue (2.9% YoY growth, beating estimates) and adjusted EPS of $0.36, despite a GAAP loss, with reaffirmed turnaround outlook. Performance reflects organic sales dip but product launches and cost discipline. Investor sentiment mixes optimism on guidance with concerns over margins and legacy spin-off issues, amid trading near multi-year lows.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ABT and BAX both operate in medtech but differ in scale and diversification: ABT's broader portfolio spans diagnostics and nutrition for resilient growth, while BAX focuses on renal and acute therapies with turnaround potential. Recent momentum favors BAX's monthly gain versus ABT's decline, but ABT shows superior 1-year relative stability (-30% vs. -43%). Risk factors include ABT's nutrition exposure and BAX's margin squeezes. Sector tailwinds like device innovation benefit both, though ABT garners stronger analyst buy ratings amid higher P/E of 25.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI leans toward ABT in the current environment, citing its larger scale, consistent earnings beats, and fresh catalysts like FDA-cleared AI imaging tools for sustained trend potential. While BAX offers short-term rebound upside post-earnings, ABT's stability and positioning suggest higher probability of relative outperformance over coming quarters.
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 ABT is a Hold and BAX is a Buy.
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).
ABT’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileBAX’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- ABT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- BAX’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 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.
ABT’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while BAX’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ABT’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- BAX’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ABT (@Medical/Nursing Services) experienced а -3.17% price change this week, while BAX (@Pharmaceuticals: Other) price change was +7.64% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical/Nursing Services industry was -1.39%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was -16.80%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Other industry was -0.49%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.13%, and the average quarterly price growth was -15.35%.
Reported Earning Dates
ABT is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
BAX is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical/Nursing Services (-1.39% weekly)The medical/nursing services includes companies that provide medical-related services such as ambulance services, dialysis centers, respiratory therapy, blood testing and rehabilitation services. DaVita Inc., Chemed Corporation and Guardant Health, Inc. are examples of companies in this industry.
@Pharmaceuticals: Other (-0.49% 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.
| ABT | BAX | ABT / BAX | |
| Capitalization | 154B | 10.8B | 1,426% |
| EBITDA | 11.8B | 750M | 1,573% |
| Gain YTD | -28.819 | 9.268 | -311% |
| P/E Ratio | 24.70 | 87.85 | 28% |
| Revenue | 45.1B | 11.3B | 399% |
| Total Cash | 7.3B | 2.02B | 362% |
| Total Debt | 34B | 9.69B | 351% |
ABT | BAX | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 9 | 33 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 3 Undervalued | 95 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 64 | 96 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 63 | 46 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 23 | 35 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | n/a |
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.
ABT's Valuation (3) in the Medical Specialties industry is significantly better than the same rating for BAX (95). This means that ABT’s stock grew significantly faster than BAX’s over the last 12 months.
ABT's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as BAX (100). This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to BAX’s over the last 12 months.
ABT's SMR Rating (64) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as BAX (96). This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to BAX’s over the last 12 months.
BAX's Price Growth Rating (46) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as ABT (63). This means that BAX’s stock grew similarly to ABT’s over the last 12 months.
ABT's P/E Growth Rating (23) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as BAX (35). This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to BAX’s over the last 12 months.
| ABT | BAX | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 49% | 4 days ago 67% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 54% | 4 days ago 73% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 50% | 4 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | 4 days ago 54% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 54% | 4 days ago 57% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 49% | 4 days ago 61% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 11 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 55% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 20 days ago 53% | 15 days ago 65% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 69% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 48% | 4 days ago 60% |
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ABT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ABT has been loosely correlated with SYK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 45% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ABT jumps, then SYK could also see price increases.