Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Price Target Raised to $170.00 at Wells Fargo & Company

Key Points

• Wells Fargo raised Becton Dickinson’s price target from $161 to $170 while maintaining an “equal weight” rating, implying approximately 3.46% downside from the reported share price.
• BD reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of about $4.98 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.23, both above analyst expectations. Management raised fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $12.62–$12.72.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with an overall “Hold” consensus and an average price target of $184.13; investors also face margin pressure and potential regulatory, legal and reputational risks tied to a recent needle recall.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by investment analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $161.00 to $170.00 in a research report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "equal weight" rating on the medical instruments supplier's stock. Wells Fargo & Company's price objective would indicate a potential downside of 3.46% from the company's current price.

BDX has been the topic of a number of other reports. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $210.00 price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $215.00 to $175.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $163.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings cut Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "sell (d+)" rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. They set a "buy" rating and a $190.00 price target for the company. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $184.13.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.5%

BDX opened at $176.10 on Friday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $127.59 and a fifty-two week high of $187.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.60, a PEG ratio of 12.16 and a beta of 0.19. The company's 50-day moving average is $153.78 and its 200 day moving average is $162.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.09. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 5.33% and a return on equity of 15.37%. The business had revenue of $4.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.89 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.68 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Becton, Dickinson and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.620-12.720 EPS. Research analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,100 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.66, for a total value of $160,226.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 13,172 shares in the company, valued at $1,918,633.52. This trade represents a 7.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Thomas E. Polen, Jr. sold 2,764 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.35, for a total transaction of $404,511.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 110,163 shares in the company, valued at $16,122,355.05. The trade was a 2.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 5,189 shares of company stock worth $765,661 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Becton, Dickinson and Company

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Steph & Co. raised its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 95.6% during the fourth quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 133 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. SHP Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 152.2% in the 1st quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 169 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Main Street Group LTD purchased a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company's stock.

More Becton, Dickinson and Company News

Here are the key news stories impacting Becton, Dickinson and Company this week:

• Positive Sentiment: BD reported fiscal Q3 revenue of approximately $5.0 billion, up 5.4% year over year, exceeding the roughly $4.89 billion consensus estimate. Adjusted diluted EPS of $3.23 also topped expectations of $3.14. BD Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $12.62-$12.72, above the $12.56 analyst consensus, and expects revenue growth toward the high end of its prior range. Becton Dickinson Signals Strong Growth Momentum By Raising Profit Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: BD highlighted growth across its core Medical and Interventional businesses. Year-to-date cash flow from continuing operations rose 33.3% to $2.1 billion, while free cash flow increased 44.6% to $1.7 billion, improving financial flexibility. Becton, Dickinson Fiscal Q3 Adjusted Earnings, Revenue Rise; Lifts 2026 Adjusted EPS Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: The earnings beat was partly offset by profitability pressure: gross and operating margins declined, and adjusted EPS fell from $3.68 a year earlier despite revenue growth. Investors may focus on whether BD can convert sales momentum into sustained margin expansion. BD Stock Up in Pre-Market Post Q3 Earnings & Revenue Beat, Margins Down
• Negative Sentiment: BD recently recalled needles used in a vascular access system following reports involving four patient deaths. The recall could create regulatory, legal and reputational concerns, although the earnings reports did not quantify a financial impact. BD Recalls Vascular Access System Needles After Four Patient Deaths

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is a global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. BD's products are used by healthcare institutions, clinical laboratories, life science researchers and the pharmaceutical industry to enable safe, effective delivery of care, specimen collection and diagnostic testing. The company's operations span multiple business areas focused on medical devices, life sciences research tools and interventional technologies.

BD's product portfolio includes single-use medical devices such as syringes, needles, needlesafety and injection systems, infusion therapy and medication management solutions, as well as vascular access, urology and oncology devices acquired through its interventional business.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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