Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Estimate for BAX Earnings

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Baxter International in a research note issued on Thursday, March 13th. Zacks Research analyst I. Bandyopadhyay now expects that the medical instruments supplier will earn $0.49 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.50. The consensus estimate for Baxter International’s current full-year earnings is $2.48 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Baxter International’s Q2 2025 earnings at $0.60 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.66 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.52 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.65 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.73 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.63 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.82 EPS.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on BAX. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Baxter International in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price target for the company. Citigroup lowered their price target on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 21st. Barclays upped their target price on Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Argus raised Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Baxter International presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $38.56.

Baxter International Price Performance

Baxter International stock opened at $34.50 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.43. Baxter International has a 52 week low of $28.34 and a 52 week high of $43.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.65 billion, a P/E ratio of -26.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $32.66 and a 200-day moving average of $33.90.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.67% and a negative net margin of 5.05%. The company had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.67 billion.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BAX. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its position in shares of Baxter International by 21.9% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 33,071 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,256,000 after buying an additional 5,931 shares during the last quarter. CKW Financial Group boosted its position in shares of Baxter International by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,200 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $81,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Baxter International by 60.8% during the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 1,560 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Baxter International by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,156,660 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $460,022,000 after purchasing an additional 170,776 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empire Financial Management Company LLC boosted its position in shares of Baxter International by 263.3% during the 3rd quarter. Empire Financial Management Company LLC now owns 26,907 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,022,000 after purchasing an additional 19,500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.97%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -53.13%.

Baxter International Company Profile

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.