These two still have long-term appeal

Article Excerpt

Becton has held up well despite the current market downturn—it’s up 3% in the past year compared to the 16% drop for the S&P 500 Index. However, Baxter is down 40% as its latest acquisition has failed to live up to market expectations. Even so, easing of the COVID-19 pandemic should spur demand for their products as hospitals resume regular medical procedures. We like both. BECTON DICKINSON & CO. $253 is a buy. The company (New York symbol BDX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 283.4 million; Market cap: $71.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.8; Dividend yield: 1.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bd.com) makes a variety of medical devices, including stents, catheters, needles, incontinence devices and surgical tools. In its fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, ended September 30, 2022, Becton’s revenue fell 1.8%, to $4.76 billion from $4.85 billion a year earlier. The drop is due to lower demand for the company’s COVID-19 diagnostic tests as infections eased in the summer. If you factor…