Baxter International Inc. (BAX) – What Are Researchers Saying About This Stock?

Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Reduce” from the fourteen analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $23.00.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Baxter International from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday. Wolfe Research started coverage on Baxter International in a report on Tuesday, October 20th. They issued a “peer perform” rating for the company. Zacks Research raised shares of Baxter International from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of Baxter International in a report on Thursday.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Baxter International

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. CX Institutional boosted its position in Baxter International by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 19,858 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $477,000 after acquiring an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Baxter International by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 44,722 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $953,000 after acquiring an additional 476 shares in the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board lifted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board now owns 15,735 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $378,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 12,617 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $303,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC boosted its position in Baxter International by 3.5% during the second quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 18,170 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $387,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Baxter International

Here are the key news stories impacting Baxter International this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Baxter reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.58 per share, exceeding the $0.52 analyst consensus, while revenue increased 5% year over year to $2.98 billion and topped expectations of $2.91 billion. Growth was described as broad-based across the company’s segments. Baxter Q3 Earnings Beat on Broad-Based Growth, 2026 Outlook Raised
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its full-year 2026 earnings outlook, signaling confidence in operating performance despite ongoing pressure on profitability. However, quarterly EPS remained below the $0.69 reported a year earlier. Baxter Raises 2026 Earnings Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target for BAX to $25 from $23, implying potential upside from recent trading levels. The firm maintained an “equal weight” rating, suggesting a constructive but cautious view. Wells Fargo Baxter Analyst Ratings
• Neutral Sentiment: Baxter declared a quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share, or $0.04 annualized. The approximately 0.2% yield provides minimal income support but maintains a cash-return program. Baxter Raises Guidance and Declares Dividend
• Negative Sentiment: The FDA issued Baxter a warning letter citing CGMP violations. The regulatory action could increase remediation costs, create operational disruptions, and raise concerns about compliance and product quality. Baxter Received FDA Warning Letter

Baxter International Trading Down 2.3%

Shares of BAX opened at $22.95 on Friday. Baxter International has a 1-year low of $15.73 and a 1-year high of $30.00. The company has a 50-day moving average of $24.59 and a 200 day moving average of $21.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.28, a PEG ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 1.32.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.91 billion. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 6.23% and a positive return on equity of 16.48%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.69 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Baxter International will post 2.10 EPS for the current year.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 27th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -2.84%.

Baxter International Company Profile

Baxter International Inc is a global medical products and healthcare technology company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. The company develops, manufactures and distributes products used in hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers and other healthcare settings.

Baxter’s portfolio has included intravenous therapies and administration systems, infusion pumps, connected-care technologies, surgical products, patient monitoring equipment and products used in medication preparation and delivery.