Becton aims for pure-play gains

Article Excerpt

After many years of expanding through acquisitions—20 purchases since 2020—medical device maker Becton Dickinson is now narrowing its focus through spinoffs. In April 2022, the company spun off its Diabetes Care business as embecta (see page 19). Investors received one share of embecta for every five common shares of Becton they held. The company now plans to spin off its Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions operations as a separate, publicly traded firm. That business makes products that help medical providers collect, transport and analyze medical samples. It also sells instruments and substances to medial research labs. The remaining firm will focus on its main medical device businesses, which should drive the stock higher as investors prefer pure-play businesses that are easier to evaluate. BECTON DICKINSON & CO. $228 is a buy. The company (New York symbol BDX; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 287.1 million; Market cap: $65.5 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.bd.com) operates through three segments: Medical (51% of revenue) makes an array of devices for…