Travis Steed, an analyst from Bank of America Securities, maintained the Hold rating on Becton Dickinson. The associated price target remains the same with $190.00.
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Travis Steed has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors surrounding Becton Dickinson’s recent strategic moves. The company announced a Reverse Morris Trust (RMT) agreement to merge its Life Sciences business with Waters Corporation. While the valuation of the deal was higher than anticipated, reflecting a significant multiple, the structure of the deal means that BDX shareholders will receive shares in the new Waters entity rather than BDX itself. This requires shareholders to decide whether to hold onto these new shares to potentially realize the full value of the synergies over time.
Despite the potential for an 11% value accretion if the deal closes at current prices, the market has not yet priced in this benefit due to uncertainties around Waters’ stock price at the time of closure and concerns about Becton Dickinson’s revenue projections. The Hold rating reflects a cautious stance as investors await clarity on these factors and the execution of the deal, which could eventually enhance BDX’s stock value if the anticipated synergies are realized and revenue targets are met.
In another report released on July 14, Wells Fargo also maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a $172.00 price target.