Becton, Dickinson and Company

(New York Stock Exchange)
Somewhat Bullish +35

Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX Shares Sold by Corient Private ...

πŸ“‰ Corient Private Wealth LLC reduced its BDX position by 14.7% to 85,346 shares worth $16.585 million during Q4.

πŸ“ˆ Auto Owners Insurance Co massively increased its stake by 22,225.2%, now holding over 40.7 million shares valued at $790 million.

πŸ’° BDX reported Q4 revenue of $4.71 billion, beating analyst estimates and growing 5.2% year-over-year.

πŸ“Š The company posted EPS of $2.90, topping the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.13.

🎯 Analysts maintain an average 'Hold' rating with a price target of $181.00, though Goldman Sachs lowered its target to $150.

πŸ’΅ BDX announced a quarterly dividend of $1.05 per share, payable on June 30th with a yield of 2.9%.

πŸ“‰ The stock trades at a PE ratio of 36.55 and has a market capitalization of $39.79 billion.

πŸ‘” CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. sold 2,764 shares under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, reducing his ownership by 2.45%.

πŸ₯ BDX operates in medical devices, life sciences research tools, and interventional technologies with global reach.

πŸ“‰ The stock's 50-day moving average is $148.40 while the 200-day average sits at $171.47.

Bullish Signals
  • BDX revenue of $4.71 billion exceeded analyst consensus estimates, indicating strong market demand for its medical devices.
  • The company beat earnings expectations with EPS of $2.90 versus the estimated $2.77, demonstrating operational efficiency.
  • Auto Owners Insurance Co significantly increased its stake by over 22 million shares, signaling strong institutional confidence.
  • HSBC Holdings and other major funds boosted their positions, contributing to a high 86.97% institutional ownership level.
  • The company maintains a consistent dividend yield of 2.9%, providing income support for shareholders.
Risk Factors
  • Goldman Sachs reduced its price target from $156.00 to $150.00 and maintained a neutral rating, reflecting cautious outlook.
  • Bank of America lowered its price objective from $177.00 to $170.00 in a recent research report.
  • Argus significantly cut its target price from $230.00 to $180.00, despite maintaining a buy rating.
  • CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. and EVP Michael David Garrison sold shares recently, though under pre-arranged plans.
  • The stock trades below its 200-day moving average of $171.47, suggesting short-term weakness relative to longer-term trends.
Full Analysis
Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) saw mixed institutional activity in the fourth quarter, highlighted by Corient Private Wealth LLC reducing its stake by 14.7% to 85,346 shares. Conversely, Auto Owners Insurance Co significantly increased its position by over 22 million shares, while HSBC Holdings and other funds also boosted their holdings. The company maintains a high institutional ownership level of 86.97%, indicating strong continued interest from major investors despite some profit-taking. Financially, BDX reported solid quarterly results with revenue of $4.71 billion, beating consensus estimates by $0.04 billion. The company posted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.90, surpassing analyst expectations of $2.77, and achieved a net margin of 5.33%. Revenue grew 5.2% year-over-year, demonstrating resilient demand for the medical instruments supplier's products across its diverse portfolio. Analyst sentiment remains cautiously positive with an average price target of $181.00, though recent targets have been adjusted by major firms like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. The stock trades at a PE ratio of 36.55 and offers a dividend yield of 2.9%, paying out slightly more than its earnings. Recent insider sales by CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. and EVP Michael David Garrison were executed under pre-arranged trading plans, which are standard procedures but noted in the market.