Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, medical-device maker Becton, Dickinson and Company
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at BD's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.
BD facts
| Headquarters (founded) | Franklin Lakes, N.J. (1897) |
| Market Cap | $15.1 billion |
| Industry | Healthcare equipment |
| Trailing-12-Month Revenue | $8.0 billion |
| Management | Chairman/CEO Vincent Forlenza CFO David Elkins |
| Return on Equity (average, past 3 years) | 23.3% |
| Cash/Debt | $2.2 billion / $4.2 billion |
| Dividend Yield | 2.4% |
| Competitors |
Abbott Labs Baxter International Covidien |
Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.
On CAPS, 98% of the 1,155 members who have rated BD believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.
Just last week, one of those Fools, BigFatBEAR, succinctly summed up the BD bull case for our community: "Nice margins, [return on equity], cash flow, low payout ratio, and aggressive dividend growth all point to a long-term health care winner."
If you want market-topping returns, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future. Of course, despite its five-star rating, BD may not be your top choice.
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Want to see how well (or not so well) the stocks in this series are performing? Follow the TrackPoisedTo CAPS account.
