Q1 EPS Estimate for Baxter International Lowered by Analyst

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) – Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for shares of Baxter International in a report issued on Thursday, March 5th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the medical instruments supplier will post earnings per share of $0.35 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.47. Zacks Research has a “Hold” rating on the stock. 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 2026 earnings at $0.44 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.56 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.59 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.93 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.38 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.48 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.57 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $2.12 EPS.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on Baxter International from $21.00 to $17.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 13th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Baxter International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Baxter International in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Evercore decreased their price target on shares of Baxter International from $24.00 to $23.00 in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $20.10.

Baxter International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BAX opened at $18.58 on Friday. Baxter International has a 1 year low of $17.40 and a 1 year high of $37.74. The firm has a market cap of $9.56 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.04, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.58. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $20.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $20.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.31.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.09). Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.95% and a negative net margin of 8.51%.The company had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.82 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.58 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. Baxter International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.850-2.050 EPS.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Baxter International

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cooke & Bieler LP grew its stake in Baxter International by 25.7% in the third quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 2,200,860 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $50,114,000 after purchasing an additional 450,350 shares in the last quarter. Greenhaven Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International during the 3rd quarter worth about $143,186,000. Cullen Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 10.4% during the 2nd quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC now owns 1,651,542 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $50,009,000 after buying an additional 155,415 shares during the last quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,128,000. Finally, Gabelli Funds LLC increased its holdings in Baxter International by 20.6% in the second quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 574,700 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $17,402,000 after buying an additional 98,000 shares during the last quarter. 90.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a $0.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.2%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio is presently -2.16%.

About Baxter International

Baxter International Inc is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products, pharmaceutical therapies and biotechnology-based solutions. The company’s primary business activities are organized around renal care, medication delivery, acute therapies, pharmacy automation, surgical care and biotechnology. Baxter’s offerings are designed to support patient care in hospitals, dialysis centers, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities worldwide.

In the renal care segment, Baxter provides hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis systems, water treatment equipment and related disposables, including dialyzers, bloodlines and catheters.