Critical Analysis: Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) & Vapor (OTCMKTS:HCMC)

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) and Vapor (OTCMKTS:HCMC) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Becton, Dickinson and Company and Vapor’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Becton, Dickinson and Company	7.51%	16.23%	7.46%
Vapor	N/A	-570.86%	-356.77%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Becton, Dickinson and Company and Vapor, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Becton, Dickinson and Company	0	8	4	0	2.33
Vapor	0	0	0	0	0.00

Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus target price of $213.09, indicating a potential upside of 15.44%. Given Becton, Dickinson and Company’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Becton, Dickinson and Company is more favorable than Vapor.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

87.0% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of Vapor shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 44.9% of Vapor shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Becton, Dickinson and Company and Vapor”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Becton, Dickinson and Company	$20.18 billion	2.62	$1.71 billion	$5.56	33.20
Vapor	N/A	N/A	-$11.89 million	N/A	N/A

Becton, Dickinson and Company has higher revenue and earnings than Vapor.

Volatility & Risk

Becton, Dickinson and Company has a beta of 0.27, indicating that its stock price is 73% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vapor has a beta of -1.24, indicating that its stock price is 224% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Becton, Dickinson and Company beats Vapor on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. The BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular access technology, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication safety and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; and prefillable drug delivery systems. The BD Life Sciences segment offers specimen and blood collection products; automated blood and tuberculosis culturing, molecular testing, microorganism identification and drug susceptibility, and liquid-based cytology systems, as well as rapid diagnostic assays, microbiology laboratory automation products, and plated media products; and fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers, antibodies and kits, reagent systems, and solutions for single-cell gene expression analysis, as well as clinical oncology, immunological, and transplantation diagnostic/monitoring reagents and analyzers. The BD Interventional segment provides hernia and soft tissue repair, biological and bioresorbable grafts, biosurgery, and other surgical products; surgical infection prevention; peripheral intervention products; and urology and critical care products. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

About Vapor

Healthier Choices Management Corp. operates natural and organic retail stores in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Grocery and Vapor. The company operates Ada's Natural Market and Paradise Health & Nutrition stores that offer fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, deli, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, health and beauty products, and natural household items; Mother Earth's Storehouse and Ellwood Thompson stores, which provide organic and health foods, and vitamins; and Greens Natural Food stores that offers organic produce and non-GMO groceries and bulk foods, various local products, juice and smoothie bar, fresh foods, vitamins and supplements, and health and beauty products. It also sells vitamins and supplements, as well as health, beauty, and personal care products through its TheVitaminStore.com website. In addition, the company offers Q-Unit and Q-Cup technology, a product that enables consumers to vape concentrates either medicinally or recreationally. Healthier Choices Management Corp. is headquartered in Hollywood, Florida.