Core Insights - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) is investing $110 million to expand its production of prefillable syringes in Columbus, Nebraska, which will create approximately 120 new jobs and enhance supply resilience within its Pharmaceutical Systems portfolio [1][4]. Investment Details - The investment includes $100 million for establishing BD Neopak™ Glass Prefillable Syringe production, with supply expected to begin in mid-2026 [4]. - An additional $10 million will be allocated to enhance cannula manufacturing capabilities at the Columbus site [4]. - This expansion follows a previous investment of over $35 million to expand prefilled flush syringe manufacturing, which will add approximately 50 new jobs [5]. Product Features - The BD Neopak™ Glass Prefillable Syringe platform is designed to meet the complex needs of biologics and combination products, available in 1 mL and 2.25 mL formats [2]. - It supports high viscosity formulations and is compatible with various drug-container integrations, facilitating seamless use with autoinjectors for patient-centric drug delivery [2]. Strategic Importance - This investment is part of BD's long-term growth strategy to strengthen its American manufacturing footprint and support U.S.-based drug delivery innovation [3][6]. - The move aims to build a more resilient pharmaceutical supply chain in the U.S., ensuring continuity and speed to market for injectable therapies as demand for biologics rises [6][7]. Company Commitment - BD is committed to investing over $2.5 billion in U.S. manufacturing capabilities over the next five years, reinforcing its position as the largest medical device manufacturer in the United States [5].

Core Viewpoint - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) will host its virtual 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on January 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. (ET) [1] Group 1: Annual Meeting Details - Shareholders as of December 8, 2025, can attend, vote, and ask questions during the Annual Meeting via a designated online platform [2] - Guests can access the Annual Meeting in listen-only mode without a control number [2] - A replay of the webcast will be available on the BD website for approximately one year following the meeting [3] Group 2: Company Overview - BD is a leading global medical technology company focused on improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and care delivery [4] - The company employs over 70,000 individuals and is committed to enhancing the safety and efficiency of healthcare delivery [4] - BD collaborates with organizations worldwide to tackle significant global health challenges and improve healthcare outcomes [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of focusing on stable, long-term investments, particularly in companies known as Dividend Kings, which have consistently increased their dividends for over five decades, indicating strong management and resilient business models [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - Income investors are encouraged to be meticulous and prioritize the quality of their investments over high yields [1]. - The article suggests avoiding trends and hype, instead advocating for a focus on companies with a proven track record of dividend growth [1]. Group 2: Stock Selection Process - A stock screener was utilized to identify Dividend Kings that are currently trading at reasonable prices, resulting in a list of eight stocks [2]. - The stocks were arranged based on their forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios, with a focus on those that are undervalued compared to sector averages [2][4]. Group 3: Company Profile - Becton Dickinson And Company - Becton Dickinson And Company (BDX) is highlighted as a global leader in medical technology, specializing in medical, laboratory, and diagnostic products [3][5]. - The company has shown innovation and market expansion, particularly with its Phasix™ Mesh hernia prevention program [5]. Group 4: Financial Performance - In its recent quarterly financials, Becton Dickinson reported a sales increase of approximately 8% year-over-year to $5.9 billion, and a net income rise of 23% to $493 million [6]. - The company offers a forward annual dividend of $4.20, resulting in a yield of around 2%, and has a forward P/E ratio of approximately 14, which is below the sector average of 27.10, indicating it is undervalued [6].

Core Viewpoint - Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is set to announce its fiscal Q1 earnings for 2026, with analysts projecting a decline in profit per share compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Analysts expect BDX to report a profit of $2.82 per share for fiscal Q1 2026, which represents a 17.8% decrease from $3.43 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full fiscal year 2026, ending in September, BDX is projected to report a profit of $14.85 per share, reflecting a 3.1% increase from $14.40 per share in fiscal 2025 [3]. - The company's EPS is anticipated to grow by 6.3% year-over-year to $15.78 in fiscal 2027 [3]. Stock Performance - BDX shares have declined by 12% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's return of 17.1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF's increase of 13.7% during the same period [4]. - Following the Q4 earnings release on November 6, BDX shares closed up slightly, with total revenue increasing by 8.3% year-over-year to $5.9 billion, meeting consensus estimates [5]. Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for BDX, with four out of twelve analysts recommending "Strong Buy" and eight suggesting "Hold" [6]. - The mean price target for BDX is set at $230, indicating an 11.5% potential upside from current levels [6].

Core Viewpoint - The proposed merger between Waters Corporation and Becton, Dickinson and Company's Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions business is under investigation to assess its fairness and adequacy for Waters shareholders [1]. Company Overview - Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) shareholders are expected to own approximately 60.8% of the combined entity post-merger [1]. Legal Investigation - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC, led by former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is conducting an investigation into the merger process to determine its fairness to Waters shareholders [1].

Core Investment Thesis - The merger between Becton, Dickinson and Company and Waters Corporation is expected to create a strong strategic fit with greater synergy upside than initially anticipated by the market, leading to an estimated EPS accretion of approximately $0.10 in 2026, increasing to around $2.70 by 2028 [2] Market Position and Recovery - Waters Corporation holds a leading position in the quality assurance and control market, with core end markets expected to improve year-over-year for the first time since pre-COVID [3] - Following the announcement of the merger, Waters shares experienced a decline of about 20% due to investor concerns regarding integration risks and changes to the financial profile [3] Stock Performance and Investor Confidence - The stock has rebounded, supported by a macro-driven recovery in tools, and investor confidence has improved as management clarified synergy targets and strategic fit [4] - Analyst projections indicate an EPS of $15.55 in 2027, which could rise to $17.18 once the merger is finalized [4] Growth Potential of the New Company - The new entity is expected to achieve above-group growth, margins, and return on invested capital (ROIC), with an estimated 20% upside by the end of 2026 based on a multiple of 26 times its 2027 post-merger EPS target [5] - The merger is seen as strategically advantageous, with historical precedents of successful large M&A deals in the life sciences sector supporting this outlook [5] Synergy Expectations - The target for total EBITDA synergies of $345 million by year five is considered conservative, based on successful past acquisitions such as Thermo Fisher Scientific's acquisition of Life Technologies and Merck's acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich [6] - At the time of publication, Waters shares were trading at $399.75, reflecting a 1.21% increase [6]

Group 1: Mastercard Inc - Mastercard Inc continues to show strong growth in digital payments, with a reported increase in transaction volume by 15% year-over-year [1] - The company has expanded its partnerships with fintech firms, enhancing its service offerings and market reach [1] - Mastercard's revenue for the last quarter reached $5.5 billion, reflecting a 12% increase compared to the previous year [1] Group 2: Becton Dickinson and Co - Becton Dickinson and Co reported a revenue of $4.2 billion for the last quarter, which is a 10% increase year-over-year [1] - The company is focusing on innovation in medical technology, particularly in the areas of diagnostics and medication management [1] - Becton Dickinson's gross margin improved to 55%, up from 53% in the previous year, indicating better cost management [1] Group 3: Union Pacific Corporation - Union Pacific Corporation experienced a decline in freight volume by 5% in the last quarter, attributed to supply chain disruptions [1] - The company's revenue was reported at $5.1 billion, down 3% compared to the same period last year [1] - Union Pacific is investing in infrastructure improvements to enhance operational efficiency and mitigate future disruptions [1]

Core Insights - BD has achieved a significant milestone with the first Phasix™ Mesh laparotomy reinforcement case in Greece, marking the first broad prophylactic indication for hernia mesh in high-risk procedures within the European Union [1][2] Product Development and Clinical Trials - The Phasix™ Mesh was used prophylactically during a sigmoidectomy on a 63-year-old male patient at George Papanikolaou General Hospital, aiming to reduce future hernia development [2] - BD's PREVENT trial has enrolled over 85% of its target population and is expected to complete enrollment in 2026, focusing on providing clinical evidence for the use of bioabsorbable mesh to prevent incisional hernias [3] Economic Impact and Cost Savings - Incisional hernias affect up to 30% of patients post-abdominal surgery, leading to significant healthcare costs, with average repair costs in the U.K. reaching £23,148, nearly double that of patients without repair [4] - Prevention strategies using Phasix™ Mesh could potentially reduce these costs and enhance patient quality of life [4] Regulatory Approvals and Market Expansion - Phasix™ Mesh received CE marking approval for prophylactic use and launched three new sizes in 2025, now registered in the U.K. and available across Europe for hernia prophylaxis [5]

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is included among the 12 Best Income Stocks to Buy Now. RBC Sees Durable Growth Profile at Becton Dickinson (BDX), Raises Target On December 17, RBC Capital raised its price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) to $210 from $202 and kept a Sector Perform rating on the shares. The call came as part of a broader research note looking ahead to 2026 for Medical Supplies & Devices. RBC expects the sector to carry positive momentum into next year. The firm ...

Core Insights - Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) has announced a collaboration with the Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H) to develop the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer, aimed at enhancing the understanding of the human immune system and supporting immune-mediated treatments [1][4] Collaboration Details - The partnership will conduct an immune profiling study involving 1,000 participants to analyze over 30 cellular functions in whole blood, focusing on how individual immune cells respond to drugs or diseases [1][9] - The study will utilize the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer and the BD Rhapsody System, along with BD's cell analysis instruments and software, to convert complex immune data into actionable insights [2][8] Market Performance - Following the announcement, BDX shares increased by 0.5%, with a 15.3% rise over the past six months, outperforming the industry growth of 4.9% and the S&P 500's increase of 16.3% [3] Strategic Implications - This collaboration reinforces BDX's commitment to advanced flow cytometry and immune profiling, enhancing its competitive position in the immunotherapy market by aligning with a leading academic institution [4][10] - The partnership aims to develop high-quality immune-based therapies, with the potential for peer-reviewed publications to validate BDX's technology and promote broader adoption in various research settings [9][10] Industry Outlook - The immunology market is projected to reach $108.40 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% through 2034, driven by increasing healthcare spending and the prevalence of autoimmune disorders [11]