Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) Stock Price Expected to Rise, The Goldman Sachs Group Analyst Says

Key Points

• The Goldman Sachs Group raised its price target on Baxter from $17 to $19, implying roughly a 10% upside from the current share price.
• Baxter beat Q1 expectations with $0.36 EPS vs. $0.31 and $2.70B revenue vs. $2.62B, but margins contracted and EPS declined year‑over‑year (from $0.62), producing mixed fundamental signals.
• Analysts remain cautious: the consensus rating is Reduce with an average price target of $19.91, and the coverage shows 2 Buys, 8 Holds and 3 Sells.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) had its price objective raised by The Goldman Sachs Group from $17.00 to $19.00 in a research note issued on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The Goldman Sachs Group's price objective would suggest a potential upside of 10.11% from the company's current price.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on BAX. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Baxter International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. Evercore decreased their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 6th. Barclays lifted their target price on Baxter International from $25.00 to $27.00 in a report on Friday. Citigroup decreased their price target on Baxter International from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Baxter International from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $19.91.

Baxter International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BAX opened at $17.26 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $17.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.31 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The company has a market capitalization of $8.91 billion, a PE ratio of -9.33, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.62. Baxter International has a 1-year low of $15.73 and a 1-year high of $32.68.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $2.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.62 billion. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 9.70% and a positive return on equity of 15.65%. Baxter International's revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.62 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Baxter International will post 1.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Basepoint Wealth LLC bought a new position in Baxter International in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Baxter International during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in Baxter International in the second quarter worth about $46,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Baxter International in the fourth quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, McMillan Office Inc. bought a new position in shares of Baxter International in the fourth quarter worth about $54,000. 90.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Baxter International News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Baxter International this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat on revenue and EPS — Baxter reported $0.36 EPS vs. consensus $0.31 and $2.70B in revenue (vs. $2.62B expected); top-line growth was driven by strong demand in its medical products & therapies unit. Baxter beats quarterly expectations on strong demand for medical devices
• Positive Sentiment: Overseas sales and segment strength supported the beat and were singled out on the call/presentation, which helped push shares higher initially. Baxter International Inc. 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation
• Neutral Sentiment: Management reiterated its 2026 growth views and emphasized execution improvements—this supports forward confidence but may not be enough to offset near-term margin concerns. Baxter Posts 1Q Loss, Backs 2026 Growth Views
• Neutral Sentiment: Dividend update: Baxter declared a token quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share (annualized yield ~0.2%); modest cash return that is unlikely to drive significant share moves. (No link)
• Neutral Sentiment: Detailed earnings call transcript and slide deck are available for investors who want granular guidance and margin commentary. Baxter International Inc. (BAX) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Margins contracted and net income metrics remain weak — EPS declined year-over-year (from $0.62 to $0.36) and commentary noted margin pressure, which caps enthusiasm despite the beat. BAX Stock Gains on Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat, Margins Contract
• Negative Sentiment: Evercore cut its price target for BAX (while keeping an Outperform rating), signaling analyst caution and likely weighing on the stock. Evercore Cuts Baxter (BAX) Price Target, Keeps Outperform Rating

About Baxter International

Baxter International Inc is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products, pharmaceutical therapies and biotechnology-based solutions. The company's primary business activities are organized around renal care, medication delivery, acute therapies, pharmacy automation, surgical care and biotechnology. Baxter's offerings are designed to support patient care in hospitals, dialysis centers, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities worldwide.

In the renal care segment, Baxter provides hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis systems, water treatment equipment and related disposables, including dialyzers, bloodlines and catheters.

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