Between Zimmer Biomet and Becton Dickinson, Which Stock Looks Set to Break Out?
Becton Dickinson fell -15% during the past Month. You may be tempted to buy more, or may want to reduce your exposure. But there is an entirely different perspective you might be missing. Is there a better alternative? Turns out, its peer Zimmer Biomet gives you more. Zimmer Biomet (ZBH) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Becton Dickinson (BDX) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in ZBH
- ZBH’s quarterly revenue growth was 10.9%, vs. BDX’s 1.6%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 7.2%, ahead of BDX’s 6.2%.
- ZBH leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 16.5% and 3-year average of 18.7%.
These differences become even clearer when you look at the financials side by side. The table highlights how BDX’s fundamentals stack up against those of ZBH on growth, margins, momentum, and valuation multiples.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| BDX | ZBH | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 15.8 | 13.9 | ZBH |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 1.6% | 10.9% | ZBH |
| Last 12 Months | 6.2% | 7.2% | ZBH |
| Last 3 Year Average | 5.4% | 5.9% | ZBH |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 14.2% | 16.5% | ZBH |
| Last 3 Year Average | 13.3% | 18.7% | ZBH |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | -23.8% | -22.1% | ZBH |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: BDX Revenue Comparison | ZBH Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: BDX Operating Income Comparison | ZBH Operating Income Comparison
See detailed fundamentals on Buy or Sell ZBH Stock and Buy or Sell BDX Stock. Below we compare market return and related metrics across years.
Historical Market Performance
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| BDX Return | 2% | 5% | -3% | -5% | -13% | -10% | -23% | ||
| ZBH Return | -17% | 4% | -4% | -12% | -14% | 9% | -32% | ||
| S&P 500 Return | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | -0% | 81% | <=== | |
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| BDX Win Rate | 50% | 58% | 50% | 42% | 58% | 33% | 49% | ||
| ZBH Win Rate | 33% | 50% | 42% | 42% | 42% | 33% | 40% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 33% | 60% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| BDX Max Drawdown | -5% | -10% | -9% | -9% | -27% | -12% | -12% | ||
| ZBH Max Drawdown | -22% | -18% | -19% | -16% | -17% | -5% | -16% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -1% | -7% | <=== | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] 2026 data is for the year up to 3/4/2026 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read ZBH Dip Buyer Analyses to see how the stock has fallen and recovered in the past.
Still not sure about BDX or ZBH? Consider portfolio approach.
Portfolios Over Individual Stock Picks
Individual stocks are unpredictable. A smart portfolio helps you invest, limits downside shocks, and provides upside exposure.
Beating the market consistently is hard, but the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio makes it look achievable. By selecting 30 high-conviction stocks, the HQ strategy has historically outpaced the S&P 500, S&P Mid-cap, and Russell 2000. See how this curated selection delivers superior risk-adjusted returns in our detailed performance factsheet.