Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is included among the 13 Cheapest Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in.
On February 11, Citi analyst Joanne Wuensch lifted her price recommendation on Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) to $198 from $185.70 and maintained a Buy rating. The adjustment came after the firm updated its financial model to account for the sale of the Life Sciences business.
During the company’s fiscal Q1 2026 earnings call, CEO Thomas Polen introduced Shawn Bevec as the new Senior Vice President of Investor Relations. He said the year had begun on solid footing, with results coming in ahead of expectations. In his view, performance reflected disciplined execution, stronger commercial momentum, and continued investment in the company’s key growth platforms.
Revenue for the quarter reached $5.3 billion. That translated into 0.4% overall growth and 2.5% growth within the New BD segment. Polen noted that several areas delivered double-digit growth, including biologic drug delivery, PureWick, advanced tissue regeneration, and pharmacy automation. Advanced Patient Monitoring posted high single-digit growth. Adjusted gross margin rose to 53.4%, while adjusted EPS came in at $2.91, both above internal forecasts.
He also said the company expected to close the combination of its Life Sciences unit with Waters Corporation through a Reverse Morris Trust transaction later that morning. The deal is set to generate a $4 billion cash distribution. Of that amount, $2 billion is planned for share repurchases, with the remaining $2 billion directed toward debt reduction. Polen described the move as aligned with BD’s more focused capital allocation strategy.
On the strategic front, he pointed to the “Excellence Unleashed” agenda, which aims to sharpen competitiveness, speed up innovation, and ensure consistent execution. Early signs of progress were already visible. The company expanded its sales force and captured new competitive wins. Alaris, for example, delivered its strongest quarter of competitive gains since its relaunch, increasing category share by roughly 100 basis points.
Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) operates as a global medical technology company, developing and selling medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products used by hospitals, physicians, life sciences researchers, and clinical laboratories worldwide.
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