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BECTON DICKINSON & CO (BDX)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q4 revenue of $5.90B grew 8.3% reported and 3.9% organic; adjusted EPS was $3.96. The quarter featured robust margin execution and strength in BD Interventional and Advanced Patient Monitoring, partially offset by vaccine-related softness in Pharma Systems and subdued research funding in Biosciences .
  • Versus consensus, adjusted EPS beat and revenue was modestly below; FY26 guidance introduced: adjusted EPS $14.75-$15.05, “low single-digit plus” GAAP revenue growth, and “low single-digit” FXN growth, with Q1 FY26 adjusted EPS guided to $2.75-$2.85 .
  • Management highlighted transitory headwinds (China VBP, vaccine demand, Alaris comp) and a clear plan: a $200M two‑year cost-out, sales force expansion (~15% in PI/APM), and focused R&D reallocations to higher-growth, higher-margin opportunities (PureWick, tissue regeneration, connected care) .
  • Strategic catalysts: Waters RMT combination (Biosciences + Diagnostic Solutions) targeted around end of Q1 CY26; share repurchases ($250M near term, at least half of ~$4B RMT proceeds for buybacks post-close), and 54th consecutive annual dividend increase to $1.05 per quarter ($4.20 annual) .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • BD Interventional delivered high-single-digit growth; UCC saw strong double-digit PureWick growth, Surgery benefited from Advanced Tissue Regeneration momentum, and PI continued double-digit Rotarex growth .
    • “We delivered adjusted diluted EPS of $3.96 for Q4 and a record $14.40 for the full year,” driven by BD Excellence with adjusted gross margin up 140 bps and adjusted operating margin up 80 bps for FY25 .
    • MMS had a record quarter for Alaris capital installations; APM outperformed the deal model with double-digit pro forma growth; biologics in Pharma Systems grew high-single digits (GLP‑1s) .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Vaccines (≈20% of Pharma Systems) declined more than anticipated late in the quarter, compressing PS growth despite strong biologics demand .
    • Biosciences remained pressured by subdued research funding; instruments softness offset mid-single-digit reagents/service growth; DS only recently returned to positive growth as BACTEC utilization recovered to >85% of historical U.S. levels .
    • China mid-teens decline expected in FY26 as VBP reaches ~80% portfolio coverage; Alaris remediation creates a >100 bps headwind to FY26 growth versus the record FY25 install base .

Financial Results

Quarter snapshot vs prior year and consensus

MetricQ4 2024Q4 2025YoY ChangeConsensus*Surprise
Revenue ($USD Billions)$5.44 $5.90 +8.3% $5.909*-$0.019B*
Reported Diluted EPS ($)$1.38 $1.72 +24.6% N/AN/A
Adjusted Diluted EPS ($)$3.81 $3.96 +3.9% $3.915*+$0.045*

Trends vs prior quarters

MetricQ2 2025Q3 2025Q4 2025
Revenue ($USD Billions)$5.27 $5.50 $5.90
Adjusted Diluted EPS ($)$3.35 $3.68 $3.96
Adjusted Gross Margin %54.9% 54.8% 54.2%
Adjusted Operating Margin %24.9% 25.8% 25.8%

Segment breakdown – Q4 2025

SegmentRevenue ($USD Billions)Reported YoYFXN YoYOrganic YoY
BD Medical$3.155 +11.2% +9.9% +4.0%
BD Life Sciences$1.368 +2.1% +0.3% +0.3%
BD Interventional$1.367 +8.5% +7.5% +7.5%
Total$5.890 +8.3% +7.0% +3.9%

Geography – Q4 2025

RegionRevenue ($USD Billions)Reported YoYFXN YoY
United States$3.422 +9.8% +9.8%
International$2.468 +6.4% +3.2%
Total$5.890 +8.3% +7.0%

KPIs

KPIPeriodValue
Adjusted Gross Margin %Q4 202554.2%
Adjusted Operating Margin %Q4 202525.8%
Free Cash FlowFY25$2.7B
Net LeverageFY25 End2.8x
Returned to ShareholdersFY25$2.2B (dividends + buybacks)
BACTEC Utilization (U.S.)Q4 2025 Exit>85% of historical levels

Non-GAAP context: Adjusted EPS excludes purchase accounting, integration/restructuring, transaction/financing, separation-related, regulatory costs, product/legal and other items, and tax impacts; Q4 specific itemization includes $232M product/legal charges and pension settlement costs; detailed reconciliation provided in Exhibit 99.1 .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
GAAP Revenue GrowthFY26N/ALow single-digit plus Initiated
Revenue Growth (FXN)FY26N/ALow single-digit Initiated
Adjusted Diluted EPSFY26N/A$14.75–$15.05 Initiated
Adjusted Operating MarginFY26~25% (FY25 actual) ~25% (consistent) Maintained
Adjusted Effective Tax RateFY26N/A14%–15% Initiated
Tariff Headwind (Incremental YoY)FY26N/A~$185M (~80 bps OM headwind) Initiated
Q1 FY26 Adjusted EPSQ1 FY26N/A$2.75–$2.85 Initiated
DividendFY2653rd annual increase prior year$1.05/quarter; $4.20 annual; +1.0% Raised

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q2 2025)Previous Mentions (Q3 2025)Current Period (Q4 2025)Trend
AI/Connected CareLaid groundwork for Pyxis Pro, Alaris updates; BD Excellence expanding to R&D/commercial Pyxis Pro limited release; Encada AI platform coming; APM connectivity initiatives Launch of BD Incada/Encada platform and next-gen Pyxis Pro; 510(k) for HemoSphere Stream Building momentum
Supply chain/tariffsFY25 tariff impact ~$90M; mitigation actions outlined FY26 tariff outlook improved to ~$275M; BD Excellence offsets FY26 incremental tariff headwind ~$185M; margins maintained ~25% Managed headwind
Product performancePureWick double-digit growth; Phasix launches; APM strong UCC +12%; Phasix adoption; APM +13% pro forma; MMS competitive wins PureWick growth, ROTAREX double-digit; Alaris record installs; APM leads Strong core, expanding
Regional trends (China)Double-digit decline expected Ongoing VBP pressure Mid-teens decline FY26; VBP ~80% by FY26 end Persistent pressure
Regulatory/legalACC/EtCO2 clearance; export licensing for flow cytometers Waters RMT progressing; FTC clearance later noted Product/legal charges in Q4; Waters RMT on track end Q1 CY26 Transition year
R&D executionFACSDiscover A8 launch planned; CentroVena One FDA clearance FACSDiscover A8 traction; single-cell multiomics pipeline DS HPV self-collection, BD COR robotics; life sciences innovation cycle Continuing

Management Commentary

  • “New BD will be a pure-play med tech company with a deep innovation pipeline in attractive markets and a best-in-class consumables revenue profile of over 90%.”
  • “We initiated a two-year $200 million cost-out program… while identifying cost optimization opportunities to reinforce our commitment to long-term profitable growth.”
  • “We expect China to decline in the mid-teens… our assumptions include China VBP reaching 80% coverage of our portfolio by the end of FY26.”
  • “MMS had a record quarter for Alaris pump installations… solidifying our leadership position now and for years to come as we complete our fleet upgrade in fiscal 2026.”
  • “We plan to execute another $250 million share buyback this quarter, in addition to using at least half of the $4 billion in cash proceeds from the Waters transaction… with the balance for debt repayment.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Capital allocation: BD views its intrinsic value as materially higher; immediate $250M buyback and ≥50% of ~$4B Waters proceeds to repurchases; management underscores EPS growth profile improving >200 bps post-spin .
  • China outlook: High-single-digit decline in Q4 and mid-teens decline guided for FY26 as VBP expands; post-separation, China will be ~4% of revenue, easing base effects .
  • Alaris trajectory: FY26 growth headwind >100 bps from lapping record installs; modeling guide—after FY26 remediation completion, sequential ~200 bps headwind then normalization with replacement cycle tailwinds into 2030s .
  • Margin durability: BD Excellence continues to drive gross margin expansion and offset tariffs; FY26 OM ~25% despite ~80 bps tariff headwind .
  • Commercial/R&D acceleration: CRO role created; ~15% sales force increases in PI and APM; ~$50M corporate costs reallocated to R&D in high-growth adjacencies (PureWick, tissue regeneration, connected care, biologics delivery) .

Estimates Context

  • Q4 2025: Adjusted EPS actual $3.96 vs consensus Primary EPS $3.915* (beat); revenue actual $5.90B vs consensus $5.909B* (slight miss).
  • Recap of recent quarters:
    • Q3 2025: Adjusted EPS $3.68 vs $3.402* (beat); revenue $5.50B vs $5.487B* (beat) .
    • Q2 2025: Adjusted EPS $3.35 vs $3.281* (beat); revenue $5.27B vs $5.352B* (miss) .
    • Q1 2025: Adjusted EPS $3.43 vs $2.989* (beat); revenue $5.17B vs $5.109B* (beat).

Values marked with an asterisk (*) were retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • The core portfolio (≈90%) is growing mid-single digits with strong margin discipline; transitory headwinds (vaccines, China VBP, Alaris comp) are sized and embedded in FY26 guidance .
  • BD Excellence is structurally improving gross margin and offsetting tariff pressures; FY26 OM ~25% despite ~80 bps tariff headwind suggests resilient earnings power .
  • Strategic actions (CRO, sales force expansion, $200M cost-out, $50M R&D reallocation) should accelerate growth in higher-margin franchises (PureWick, APM, tissue regeneration, connected care) .
  • Capital returns are set to intensify: immediate $250M buyback, ≥50% of ~$4B Waters proceeds to repurchases, and dividend raised for the 54th consecutive year—supporting EPS compounding .
  • Near-term trading: Q1 FY26 revenue/adjusted EPS step down is guided; watch China VBP, vaccine order patterns, and Alaris remediation phasing—Q2/Q3 are expected to be stronger quarters .
  • Medium-term thesis: New BD as a focused med tech leader with best-in-class consumables profile, margin expansion runway, improving FCF conversion, and accretive capital allocation post-RMT .

Appendix: Additional Relevant Press Releases

  • Dividend increase to $1.05/quarter (54th consecutive year); indicated annual dividend $4.20 .
  • PureWick Portable Collection System launch expands into wheelchair/at‑home mobility use cases; compatibility across male/female external catheters .
  • FY25 press release confirms Q4 results, segment/geography breakdowns, and FY26 guidance .