Is BDX or HCA cheaper?

On trailing earnings, HCA is cheaper: BDX trades at a 36.84 P/E and HCA at 13.65.

Which has grown faster, BDX or HCA?

Over the past five years, HCA grew revenue faster — BDX at a 2.52% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.

Does BDX or HCA pay a bigger dividend?

BDX yields 2.57% and HCA yields 0.76% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is BDX or HCA more profitable?

HCA runs the higher net margin — BDX at 5.33% versus HCA at 8.89%.

Which has been the better investment, BDX or HCA?

Over the past 10-year, HCA delivered the higher annualized total return — BDX at 2.91% versus HCA at 18.63%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) vs HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA)

HCA leads on 12 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Becton, Dickinson and Company and HCA Healthcare, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 16, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

BDX

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Total return — BDX vs HCA

growth of $100 · last 15y

BDX +138.2%HCA +1157.2%HCA compounded faster

Log scale — wide-divergence pair

BDX HCA

BDX vs HCA: by the numbers

•HCA is the larger company ($88.05B vs $52.72B market cap).
•HCA trades at the lower earnings multiple (13.65 vs 36.84 P/E).
•HCA converts more revenue to profit (8.89% vs 5.33% net margin).
•HCA grew revenue faster over the past five years (7.73% vs 2.52% CAGR).
•BDX pays the higher dividend yield (2.57% vs 0.76%).

Which is better, BDX or HCA?

Metric tally: BDX 4 · HCA 12

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueHCA(lower P/E)

GrowthHCA(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeBDX(higher dividend yield)

QualityHCA(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	BDX	HCA
P/E ratio	36.84	13.65●
Forward P/E	10.86●	11.96
P/S ratio	1.91	1.18●
P/B ratio	1.69	—
PEG ratio	2.27	0.56●
EV / EBITDA	13.76	8.86●
FCF yield	7.69%	8.81%●

Profitability

Metric	BDX	HCA
Gross margin	46.48%●	34.92%
Operating margin	10.61%	15.67%●
Net margin	5.33%	8.89%●
ROE	4.72%●	-112.56%
ROIC	4.73%	18.53%●

Dividends

Metric	BDX	HCA
Dividend yield	2.57%●	0.76%
Payout ratio	64.09%	10.48%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	BDX	HCA
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	2.52%	7.73%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	16.26%	20.90%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-5.41%	1.92%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	-2.99%	14.89%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, BDX or HCA?: It depends on your goal. value: HCA (lower P/E); growth: HCA (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: BDX (higher dividend yield); quality: HCA (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, HCA leads 12 to 4.
Is BDX or HCA cheaper?: On trailing earnings, HCA is cheaper: BDX trades at a 36.84 P/E and HCA at 13.65.
Which has grown faster, BDX or HCA?: Over the past five years, HCA grew revenue faster — BDX at a 2.52% CAGR versus HCA at 7.73%.
Does BDX or HCA pay a bigger dividend?: BDX yields 2.57% and HCA yields 0.76% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is BDX or HCA more profitable?: HCA runs the higher net margin — BDX at 5.33% versus HCA at 8.89%.
Which has been the better investment, BDX or HCA?: Over the past 10-year, HCA delivered the higher annualized total return — BDX at 2.91% versus HCA at 18.63%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full BDX analysis Full HCA analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Becton, Dickinson and P/E ratio HCA Healthcare P/E ratio Becton, Dickinson and dividend yield HCA Healthcare dividend yield Becton, Dickinson and ROE HCA Healthcare ROE Becton, Dickinson and operating margin HCA Healthcare operating margin Becton, Dickinson and revenue growth HCA Healthcare revenue growth Becton, Dickinson and free cash flow HCA Healthcare free cash flow

Becton, Dickinson and & HCA Healthcare appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROIC Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 16, 2026.