Are Wall Street Analysts Predicting Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Will Climb or Sink?

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products. Valued at $50.5 billion by market cap, the company offers solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, and promote infection prevention.

Shares of this global medical technology giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year. BDX has gained 19.6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 20.4%. However, in 2026, BDX stock is up 20.2%, surpassing the SPX’s 13.7% rise on a YTD basis. 

Narrowing the focus, BDX’s outperformance is apparent compared to the iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHI). The exchange-traded fund has declined about 9.5% over the past year. Moreover, the stock’s returns on a YTD basis outshine the ETF’s 10.3% losses over the same time frame.

BDX has experienced mixed stock performance due to a combination of persistent operational challenges and recent recovery catalysts. Sluggish revenue growth, stagnant operating margins relative to medtech peers, and headwinds in international markets like China created prolonged underperformance against the broader healthcare sector. However, strong operational growth in core segments, particularly drug delivery devices such as GLP-1 auto-injectors, alongside strategic portfolio restructuring and its long-standing status as a reliable Dividend King, have helped restore investor confidence despite the volatile backdrop.   

On Aug. 6, BDX shares closed up by 3.8% after reporting its Q3 results. Its adjusted EPS of $3.23 beat Wall Street expectations of $3.14. The company’s revenue was $5 billion, exceeding Wall Street forecasts of $4.9 billion. BDX expects full-year adjusted EPS in the range of $12.62 to $12.72.

For the current fiscal year, ending in September, analysts expect BDX’s EPS to decline 12% to $12.67 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is impressive. It beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters.

Among the 16 analysts covering BDX stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on seven “Strong Buy” ratings, and nine “Holds.”

This configuration is more bullish than a month ago, with six analysts suggesting a “Strong Buy.”

On Aug. 14, Joanne Wuensch from Citigroup Inc. (C) reiterated a “Buy” rating on BDX, with a price target of $208, implying a potential upside of 13.4% from current levels.

The mean price target of $187.33 represents a 2.1% premium to BDX’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $210 suggests an upside potential of 14.5%.