Becton, Dickinson and Company

(New York Stock Exchange)
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Somewhat Bullish +35

D.A. Davidson & CO. Boosts Stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

AI-generated analysis

πŸ“ˆ D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its BDX stake by 13.5% to 73,877 shares worth $11.6 million during Q1.

πŸ“Š Institutional investors like Marshall Wace LLP and United Bank significantly boosted their positions in the medical device supplier.

πŸ’° Becton, Dickinson reported Q4 earnings of $2.90 EPS, beating estimates of $2.77 with revenue of $4.71 billion.

πŸ“ˆ Revenue grew 5.2% year-over-year to $4.71 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $4.67 billion.

🎯 The company set FY 2026 EPS guidance between $12.52 and $12.72, slightly above the average analyst forecast.

πŸ’Έ A quarterly dividend of $1.05 was paid on June 30th with an annualized yield of 2.6%.

⚠️ The payout ratio is 106.33%, meaning dividends are currently being funded from cash reserves rather than earnings.

πŸ“‰ Argus lowered its price target to $180 and Stifel Nicolaus dropped theirs to $175, though the average analyst target remains $180.29.

πŸ‘” CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. sold 2,764 shares for $404,511 under a pre-arranged trading plan on June 1st.

πŸ“‰ EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,100 shares for $160,226 on June 24th as part of a Rule 10b5-1 plan.

🏦 Hedge funds and institutional investors own 86.97% of the company's outstanding stock.

πŸ“‰ The stock trades at a PE ratio of 40.47 with a market capitalization of $44.05 billion.

Bullish Signals
  • BDX reported quarterly earnings of $2.90 EPS, beating analyst consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.13.
  • Revenue reached $4.71 billion, surpassing expectations of $4.67 billion and growing 5.2% year-over-year.
  • The company set full-year 2026 EPS guidance between $12.52 and $12.72, which is higher than the average analyst prediction of $12.62.
  • D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its stake by 13.5% to 73,877 shares, signaling continued institutional confidence.
  • Marshall Wace LLP significantly increased its position by 365.1%, adding 25,022 shares valued at $5.49 million.
  • United Bank grew its holdings by 23.9% to 5,149 shares, indicating broader institutional accumulation.
  • The company maintains a strong balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.94.
Risk Factors
  • Argus lowered its price target from $230 to $180 while maintaining a 'buy' rating, indicating potential downside risk.
  • Stifel Nicolaus dropped its price target from $215 to $175 and issued a neutral rating on the stock.
  • The Goldman Sachs Group decreased its target price from $156 to $150 with a 'neutral' rating.
  • The payout ratio is 106.33%, indicating that dividends are currently exceeding earnings per share.
  • CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. sold 2,764 shares for $404,511, reducing his personal stake by 2.45%.
  • EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,100 shares for $160,226, decreasing his ownership by 7.71%.
  • Insiders collectively sold 5,188 shares worth $765,120 in the last three months, reducing their total ownership to 0.40%.
Full Analysis
D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) by 13.5% during the first quarter, adding 8,783 shares to a total holding of 73,877 shares valued at $11.6 million. Several other institutional investors also adjusted their positions, with Marshall Wace LLP significantly increasing its stake by 365.1% and United Bank growing its holdings by 23.9%, while hedge funds collectively own 86.97% of the company's stock. BDX recently reported quarterly earnings that beat analyst expectations, posting $2.90 per share compared to a consensus of $2.77, with revenue reaching $4.71 billion, a 5.2% year-over-year increase. The company has set full-year 2026 guidance between $12.52 and $12.72 EPS, slightly above the average analyst prediction of $12.62. Analysts have issued mixed ratings, with an average target price of $180.29, though recent reports from Argus and Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price targets. The company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.05 per share on June 30th, resulting in an annualized yield of 2.6%. However, the payout ratio stands at 106.33%, indicating dividends are currently exceeding earnings. Recent insider activity includes sales by CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. and EVP Michael David Garrison, who sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, with insiders collectively reducing their holdings by approximately $765,000 in the last three months.