STERIS (STE) Competitors

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) and STERIS (NYSE:STE) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their media sentiment, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, earnings, dividends and institutional ownership.

Which has more volatility and risk, BDX or STE?

Becton, Dickinson and Company has a beta of 0.25, meaning that its stock price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, STERIS has a beta of 1.01, meaning that its stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Does the media favor BDX or STE?

In the previous week, Becton, Dickinson and Company had 15 more articles in the media than STERIS. MarketBeat recorded 29 mentions for Becton, Dickinson and Company and 14 mentions for STERIS. STERIS's average media sentiment score of 1.78 beat Becton, Dickinson and Company's score of 1.59 indicating that STERIS is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Becton, Dickinson and Company	27 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	2 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Very Positive
STERIS	13 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Very Positive

Which has better earnings and valuation, BDX or STE?

Becton, Dickinson and Company has higher revenue and earnings than STERIS. Becton, Dickinson and Company is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than STERIS, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Becton, Dickinson and Company	$20.18B	2.74	$1.71B	$5.56	34.63
STERIS	$5.46B	4.36	$614.64M	$6.53	37.00

Is BDX or STE more profitable?

STERIS has a net margin of 11.61% compared to Becton, Dickinson and Company's net margin of 7.51%. Becton, Dickinson and Company's return on equity of 16.23% beat STERIS's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Becton, Dickinson and Company	7.51%	16.23%	7.46%
STERIS	11.61%	14.17%	9.25%

Do analysts recommend BDX or STE?

Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus price target of $205.40, suggesting a potential upside of 6.67%. STERIS has a consensus price target of $273.50, suggesting a potential upside of 13.21%. Given STERIS's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe STERIS is more favorable than Becton, Dickinson and Company.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Becton, Dickinson and Company	0 Sell rating(s)	9 Hold rating(s)	3 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.25
STERIS	0 Sell rating(s)	2 Hold rating(s)	7 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.78

Is BDX or STE a better dividend stock?

Becton, Dickinson and Company pays an annual dividend of $4.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. STERIS pays an annual dividend of $2.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Becton, Dickinson and Company pays out 74.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. STERIS pays out 38.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Becton, Dickinson and Company has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years and STERIS has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years. Becton, Dickinson and Company is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Do insiders and institutionals believe in BDX or STE?

87.0% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 94.7% of STERIS shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.4% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of STERIS shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

STERIS beats Becton, Dickinson and Company on 13 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.