12 Best Income Stocks to Buy Now

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7. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41

Dividend Yield as of December 28: 2.14%

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is among the best dividend stocks to invest in.

On December 17, RBC Capital raised its price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) to $210 from $202 and kept a Sector Perform rating on the shares. The call came as part of a broader research note looking ahead to 2026 for Medical Supplies & Devices. RBC expects the sector to carry positive momentum into next year. The firm points to aging demographics, wider global access to healthcare, and continued innovation as key supports. For Becton Dickinson, the view is more measured but still constructive. RBC sees the company growing at a mid-single-digit pace, supported by a durable core business and a high level of recurring revenue.

At the same time, some near-term risk has surfaced. According to a Reuters report on December 23, Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) has been sued by a rival medical device maker over alleged anticompetitive behavior in the US surgical hernia mesh market. The complaint argues that the company’s actions led patients and care providers to pay higher prices.

The lawsuit, filed on December 19 in federal court in Philadelphia by Tela Bio, claims Becton Dickinson used its strength in permanent and resorbable hernia mesh to shut out competition. Tela Bio alleges that its OviTex product was excluded through restrictive practices.

The Pennsylvania-based company also claims Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) violated antitrust law by penalizing hospitals and healthcare systems that purchased competing products. It says long-term contracts were used to lock customers into buying only from Becton Dickinson.

Becton Dickinson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tela Bio declined to comment. BDX is down by over 13% since the start of 2025.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is a global medical technology company that designs and manufactures medical devices, instrument systems, reagents, and analytics used across healthcare settings worldwide.

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