Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.
Becton Dickinson disclosed 25 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Becton Dickinson reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Risk Overview Q4, 2025
Risk Distribution
20% Finance & Corporate
20% Tech & Innovation
20% Macro & Political
16% Legal & Regulatory
16% Production
8% Ability to Sell
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
2022
Q4
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
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Becton Dickinson Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2025
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 5 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 5 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
25
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
25
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Dec 2025
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Dec 2025
Number of Risk Changed
0
-4
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 3
0
-4
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of Becton Dickinson in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 25
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 5/25 (20%)Below Sector Average
Debt & Financing2 | 8.0%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
The agreements that govern our indebtedness impose restrictions that may affect our ability to operate our businesses.
The agreements that govern our indebtedness contain various affirmative and negative covenants that may, subject to certain significant exceptions, restrict the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to incur debt and the ability of us and certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things, have liens on our property, merge or consolidate with any other person or sell or convey certain of our assets to any one person. In addition, the agreements also require us to comply with certain financial covenants, including financial ratios. Our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond our control. Failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could accelerate our repayment obligations and could result in a default and acceleration under other agreements containing cross-default provisions. Under these circumstances, we might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy all of our obligations.
Debt & Financing - Risk 2
We may not be able to service all of our indebtedness.
We depend on cash on hand and cash flows from operations to make scheduled debt payments. However, our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from our operations and to utilize other methods to make scheduled payments will depend on a range of economic, competitive and business factors, many of which are outside of our control. There can be no assurance that these sources will be adequate. Further, our ability to refinance our indebtedness could be adversely impacted by the loss of our "well-known seasoned issuer" status upon the filing of this annual report due to our entry into a December 2024 SEC Order. If we are unable to service our indebtedness and fund our operations, through the raising of additional capital or otherwise, we will be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, seek additional capital, sell assets or refinance our indebtedness. Any such action may not be successful and we may be unable to service our indebtedness and fund our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, we may not be able to refinance existing debt on favorable or comparable terms.
Corporate Activity and Growth3 | 12.0%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
We cannot guarantee that any of our strategic acquisitions, investments or alliances will be successful.
We seek to supplement our internal growth through strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances. Such transactions are inherently risky, and the integration of any newly-acquired business requires significant effort and management attention. The success of any acquisition, investment or alliance may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to properly assess and value the potential business opportunity or to successfully integrate any business we may acquire into our existing business. There can be no assurance that any past or future transaction will be successful.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
We may not realize some or all of the expected benefits of the combination of our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business with Waters.
If the separation of our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business and combination of the business with Waters is completed, the anticipated operational, financial, strategic and other benefits of such transaction to us and our shareholders may not be achieved. In addition, we have agreed to provide certain transition services to the combined company, which may result in additional expenses and may divert our focus and resources that would otherwise be invested into maintaining or growing our businesses. An inability to realize tsome or all of the anticipated benefits of the transaction, as well as any delays encountered in the process, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, while it is expected that the transaction would be generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes to us and our shareholders, no assurances can be provided that the transaction will qualify for such treatment. If the transaction is ultimately determined to be taxable, this could result in significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities for us and our shareholders. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
The proposed combination of our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business with Waters may not be completed, on the currently contemplated timeline or at all.
On July 13, 2025, we entered into a definitive agreement with Waters to combine our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business with Waters. The transaction, if consummated, would result in our shareholders owning approximately 39.2% of the combined company and existing Waters shareholders owning approximately 60.8% of the combined company. The transaction is expected to close around the end of the first quarter of calendar year 2026, subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, Waters stockholder approval, compliance with applicable SEC requirements, the receipt of a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding certain matters germane to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the transactions and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. No assurances can be provided that such closing conditions will be satisfied or waived or that the transaction will be consummated, on the currently contemplated timeline or at all. A failure to complete the transaction, or a delay in doing so, could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In the event that the transaction does not close, we will be required to bear significant non-recurring costs in connection with the transaction.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 5/25 (20%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D2 | 8.0%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
The announcement and pendency of the combination of our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business with Waters could cause disruptions in our business.
The completion of the separation of our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business and combination of the business with Waters will require significant amounts of time and effort, which could divert management attention, disrupt the activities of our employees and have negative implications for our relationships with our customers and other third parties. We have already incurred and expect to incur additional costs and expenses in connection with the separation and combination. Until the consummation or termination of the transaction, we are also required to operate the business in the ordinary course and we are restricted from taking certain specified actions with respect to our Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business without Waters' consent. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition, result of operations and cash flows.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 2
Our future growth is dependent in part upon the development of new products, and there can be no assurance that such products will be developed.
A significant element of our strategy is to increase revenue growth by continuing to focus on innovation and new product development. New product development requires significant investment in R&D, clinical trials and regulatory approvals. The results of our product development efforts may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to anticipate customer needs, innovate and develop new products and technologies, successfully complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals and reimbursement in the U.S. and abroad, manufacture products in a cost-effective manner, obtain appropriate intellectual property rights and gain and maintain market acceptance of our products. In addition, patents attained by others can preclude or delay our commercialization of a product. There can be no assurance that any products now in development, or that we may seek to develop in the future, will achieve technological feasibility, obtain regulatory approval or gain market acceptance. If we are unable to develop and launch new products, our ability to maintain or expand our market position in the markets in which we participate may be negatively impacted. Even if we successfully develop new products or enhancements or new generations of existing products, they may be quickly rendered obsolete by changing customer preferences, changing industry or regulatory standards, or competitors' innovations.
Trade Secrets1 | 4.0%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
Our operations are dependent in part on patents and other intellectual property assets.
Many of our businesses rely on patent, trademark and other intellectual property assets. These intellectual property assets, in the aggregate, are of material importance to our business. We can lose the protection afforded by these intellectual property assets through patent expirations, legal challenges or governmental action. Any patent applications we own or license may not result in patents being issued and any issued patents we obtain may not provide us with any competitive advantage. Furthermore, we may fail to accurately predict all of the countries where patent protection will ultimately be desirable, and if we fail to timely file a patent application in any such country, we may be precluded from doing so at a later date. Patents attained by competitors, particularly as patents on our products expire, may also adversely affect our competitive position. Competitors may design around our intellectual property to develop competing technologies and products without infringing our intellectual property rights. In addition, competitors may seek to invalidate patents on our products or claim that our products infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate their intellectual property, which could result in a loss of competitive advantage or the payment of significant legal fees, damages and past or future royalties, as well as injunctions against future sales of our products. We also operate in countries that do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as in the U.S., which could make it easier for competitors to compete with us in those countries. Further, governmental regulation and laws related to AI and other emerging technologies may increase the burden and cost of research and development or require increased transparency that makes it more difficult to protect our intellectual property.
We also rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how with which we seek to protect our products, in part, by confidentiality agreements with certain employees, consultants and other parties. These agreements may not adequately protect our trade secrets and other proprietary rights. These agreements may be breached and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently developed by our competitors.
The loss of a significant portion of our portfolio of intellectual property assets may have an adverse effect on our earnings, financial condition or cash flows.
Cyber Security1 | 4.0%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
Cybersecurity incidents and breaches or breakdowns of our information and technology systems or infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We rely on a large number of information and technology ("IT") systems and related infrastructure, including services provided to us by third-party vendors to operate our business. We collect, use, store, transfer and otherwise process electronic information in our day-to-day operations, including personal, confidential, or proprietary information of BD and its customers, vendors and other business partners and patients. Additionally, some of our products and systems collect personal, confidential or proprietary information regarding patients and patient therapy on behalf of our customers and some of our products are internet enabled or connect to our IT systems for maintenance and other purposes. We also have products and systems that connect to the internet, hospital networks, electronic medical record systems or electronic health record systems. In addition, we rely on networks and services, including internet sites, cloud and software-as-a-service ("SaaS") solutions, platform-as-a-service ("PaaS") solutions, data hosting and processing facilities, AI, tools and other hardware, software (including open-source software) and technical applications and platforms, including some that are managed, hosted, provided and/or used by third-party vendors, to operate our business. Further, we expect that the breadth and complexity of our IT systems and infrastructure will increase as we expand our product offerings to utilize cloud technologies and AI, which present inherent enterprise technology risks, including those related to privacy, data protection and cybersecurity, that need to be managed. The foregoing could expose us to further risk of potential breaches, failures, interruptions and disruptions, which could result in adverse consequences, including regulatory inquiries or litigation, increased costs and expenses, reputational damage, lost revenue, and fines or penalties. In particular, risks associated with the deployment and use of AI into our operations generally could introduce new risks related to the management of our information and technology systems and related infrastructure and our overall cybersecurity threat landscape.
While we are continuing to modernize our IT systems and infrastructure (such as hardware, software and operating systems), there are still legacy technologies in operation that are more vulnerable to risk of failures, interruptions and disruptions. In addition, while we continue to enhance business continuity and disaster recovery plans and strategies, there is no guarantee that such plans and strategies will be effective or account for all eventualities. We have experienced, and could in the future experience, the failure, interruption or disruption of the functionality of our IT systems and infrastructure (or those of third-party vendors upon which we rely), which could impair our ability or that of our customers, suppliers and other business partners to conduct business. Such a disruption could also result in the loss of our trade secrets or otherwise compromise personal, confidential or proprietary information of ours or our customers, suppliers and other business partners, or of patients. Additionally, depending on the nature of such a disruption, it could result in efficacy or safety concerns for certain of our products, result in reputational harm to our business and result in actions by regulatory bodies or civil litigation.
Cyberattacks continue to increase in frequency, sophistication and intensity, and are increasingly difficult to detect in real-time and may go undetected for long periods of time, especially as they relate to attacks on third-party vendors and those utilizing emerging technologies (such as AI). Such attacks are often carried out by motivated and highly skilled actors, who are increasingly well-resourced. Our IT systems and infrastructure, as well as those of various third parties on which we rely, have experienced, and are likely to continue to experience, a variety of cyberattacks, including, but not limited to, unauthorized access, malicious code execution and/or phishing attacks, which could be further exacerbated by rapid technology evolution, including increased adoption of AI and geopolitical events. For example, AI is increasingly being used by malicious actors to create more targeted cyberattacks and spread misinformation. These cyberattacks have resulted, and could in the future result, in our and our customers' personal, confidential or proprietary information being accessed, destroyed, lost, stolen or otherwise compromised and could lead to increased costs for cybersecurity measures, insurance or remediation and adversely affect our reputation, financial condition, results of operations or competitive position in the market and result in other significant negative consequences, including lost revenue, damages or fines, manufacturing challenges or disruption, diversion of management attention, litigation, regulatory action and damage to our relationships with vendors, business partners and customers.
Unauthorized tampering, adulteration or interference with our products, including through cyberattacks, may also create issues with product functionality that could result in a loss or alteration of data, risk to patient safety and product recalls or field actions, as well as impact our compliance with privacy, data protection and other laws and regulations and could result in reputational damage and actions by regulatory bodies or civil litigation.
In addition, acquisitions and the integration of acquired companies into our existing and future IT systems and infrastructure, including with third-party vendors and processes, inherently present cybersecurity risks, such as exposing us to vulnerabilities and threats that were previously unknown or unmanaged. While we attempt to mitigate these risks through due diligence, risk assessments and the implementation of cybersecurity controls and protocols during and after the acquisition process, there can be no assurance that such measures will be sufficient to prevent, mitigate or remediate cybersecurity incidents or breaches, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
While we have made, and expect to continue making, significant investments intended to strengthen our cybersecurity posture-including measures designed to protect our products, systems, and data-we cannot guarantee that these efforts will fully prevent, mitigate or remediate cybersecurity incidents or breaches. We maintain processes designed to monitor, detect and respond to threats and collaborate with government authorities and third-party partners in an effort to reduce risk. However, given the evolving nature, sophistication, scale and frequency of cybersecurity incidents and breaches, no system can be entirely secure. A successful cybersecurity incident or breach could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Technology1 | 4.0%
Technology - Risk 1
The development, deployment and use of AI in our products and business operations generally could result in regulatory action, legal liability, operational challenges or reputational harm and our failure to adapt to medical technology industry trends and developments related to AI in a timely manner (or at all) could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We have integrated (and expect to continue to integrate) AI into our products and business operations generally. We also expect to continue to develop future uses of AI and expand our existing AI capabilities to include agentic solutions, as well as pursue new AI technology partnerships with third parties. The development, deployment and use of AI (particularly generative AI) is in the early stages and presents various risks, including from confidentiality, privacy, data protection, cybersecurity and compliance perspectives, and raises intellectual property issues and legal, regulatory, reputational ethical, operational, technological and other concerns (see, "Our operations are dependent in part on patents and other intellectual property assets" and "Cybersecurity incidents and breaches or breakdowns of our information and technology systems or infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our operations" elsewhere in this Item 1A, Risk Factors). Additionally, if we do not effectively adopt and integrate AI into innovative, market-differentiated products in a timely manner, our competitive position could be adversely affected.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 5/25 (20%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 4.0%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Global economic conditions, including inflation and supply chain disruptions, could continue to adversely affect our operations.
General global economic downturns and macroeconomic trends, including heightened inflation, capital market volatility (including volatility resulting from the imposition of (and changing policies around) tariffs and related countermeasures), import or export licensing requirements, interest rate and currency rate fluctuations, economic slowdown or recession, have contributed to conditions that have impacted, and may continue to impact, demand for our products and services, or the prices we can charge for our products, disrupt aspects of our supply chain, impair our ability to produce our products, increase borrowing costs and exacerbate other risks that affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, general economic conditions have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, the healthcare industry, including reductions in capital spending and U.S. federal funding and changes in the delivery of healthcare services, which have affected, and could in the future affect, demand for our products. Both domestic and international markets experienced inflationary pressures in fiscal year 2025 and we expect inflation to persist in the future. In addition, currency exchange rates have been especially volatile in the recent past, and these currency fluctuations have affected, and may continue to affect, the reported value of our assets and liabilities, as well as our cash flows.
We have also experienced, and may continue to experience, challenges in our global supply chain, including shortages in supply, or disruptions in production and shipments, of certain materials or components used in our products and related price increases. While to date, we have been able to manage the challenges associated with these delays and shortages without significant disruption to our business, no assurance can be given that these efforts will continue to be successful.
International Operations1 | 4.0%
International Operations - Risk 1
Our international operations subject us to certain business risks.
A substantial amount of our sales come from our operations outside the U.S., and we intend to continue to pursue growth opportunities in new and existing foreign markets. Our foreign operations subject us to certain commercial, political and financial risks. In addition to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange (discussed above), our business in these foreign markets is subject to changing political, social, and geopolitical conditions, such as the continuation and/or escalation of the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and Asia. These conditions include instability resulting from war, terrorism, insurrections and civil unrest, political conflict and changing economic conditions, such as inflation, deflation, interest rate volatility and credit availability.
Specifically, recently enacted or any future tariffs imposed by the U.S. government (and countermeasures by non-U.S. governments) may result in adverse impacts to the global economic environment and the stability of global financial markets, which could alter global trade. The tariffs, sanctions or other trade barriers imposed by the U.S. (and countermeasures by non-U.S. governments) could adversely impact our supply chain costs or availability of certain components, demand for our products and our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Unpredictability of trade policy compounds this risk. Based upon the latest published tariffs that are currently in effect, we expect tariffs to adversely impact our operating expense for fiscal year 2026 and potentially beyond, primarily relating to any products (or components) imported from countries across our global supply chain, for which there are limited mitigation opportunities.
Further, the U.S. Department of Commerce recently initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, into (among other things) imports of personal protective equipment, medical consumables and medical equipment (including devices), to determine whether they threaten U.S. national security, which further creates policy uncertainty in terms of tariffs. The ultimate impact of any existing or new tariffs or other changes in international trade policies on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows is subject to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the duration of such tariffs, changes in tariff rates, the amount, scope and nature of the tariffs, any countermeasures that target countries may take or any mitigating actions that may become available. While sourcing optimization and tariff exemptions for qualifying products are key aspects of our mitigation strategy, the timing of such or the ultimate results we will realize from these efforts are uncertain. In addition, our tariff mitigation strategies may be challenged, rejected or eliminated through legislation or other challenges, or may otherwise not be effective.
Additionally, a number of factors, including U.S. relations with or among the governments of the foreign countries in which we operate, changes to international trade agreements and treaties, changes in tax laws and regulations, economic sanctions, export controls, restrictions on the ability to transfer capital across borders and other increases in trade protectionism and barriers to market participation, or the weakening or loss of certain intellectual property rights in some countries, may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Foreign regulatory requirements, including those related to the testing authorization, and labeling of products and import or export licensing requirements, could affect the availability of our products in these markets. In addition to these broader market conditions, our operations may also be impacted by a variety of local factors, such as competition from local companies, local product preferences and requirements, changes in local healthcare payment systems and healthcare delivery systems, changes resulting from new political administrations and labor force instability.
The success of our operations outside the U.S. also depends, in part, on our ability to make necessary infrastructure enhancements to, among other things, our production facilities and sales and distribution networks, and our strategic staffing plans required to support our international operations. These and other factors may adversely impact our ability to pursue our growth strategy in these markets.
In addition, our international operations increase our compliance risk. For example, such international operations are governed by the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar foreign anti-corruption laws. Global enforcement of anti-corruption and bribery laws has increased substantially in recent years, with more enforcement proceedings by foreign governmental agencies and the imposition of significant fines and penalties. While we have implemented policies, procedures and training related to compliance with these laws, our international operations, which often involve customer relationships with foreign governments, create the risk that there may be unauthorized payments or offers of payments made by employees, consultants, sales agents or distributors. We are also subject to certain U.S. and foreign laws and regulations that restrict us from transacting business with, or making investments in, certain countries, governments, entities and individuals subject to U.S. or foreign economic sanctions or export restrictions. Any alleged or actual violations of these laws may subject us to government investigations and significant criminal or civil sanctions and other liabilities, and negatively affect our reputation which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 4.0%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
Natural disasters, public health crises, war and other events beyond our control could disrupt our business and adversely affect our future revenues and operating income.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events (including those caused by climate change), war, public health crises (such as pandemics and epidemics), terrorism, social or political unrest, labor disruptions and international conflicts and other events beyond our control, and actions taken by the U.S. and other governments, private health institutions or by our customers or suppliers in response to such events, could cause significant economic disruption and political and social instability in the U.S. and areas outside of the U.S. in which we operate. Such events are inherently unpredictable, and our responses may involve the implementation of measures which may not be successful. These events could have a negative impact on the capital markets or result in decreased demand for our products, adversely affect our manufacturing and distribution capabilities or increase the costs for or cause interruptions in the supply of materials from our suppliers.
Capital Markets2 | 8.0%
Capital Markets - Risk 1
Market dynamics, changes in reimbursement practices and coverage policies, third-party payer cost containment measures and health insurance coverage levels could affect demand for our products and the prices at which they are sold.
The sale of our products and services, as well as access to them, depends, in part, on the healthcare funding landscape, how healthcare providers and facilities are reimbursed by public and private payers and health insurance coverage levels and costs. Coverage policies and reimbursement levels can vary across the payer community globally, regionally and locally, and may affect which products customers purchase, the market acceptance rate for new technologies and the prices customers are willing to pay for those products in a particular jurisdiction. In addition, third-party payers are increasingly challenging the reimbursement models and prices charged for medical products and services. Any changes to the reimbursement landscape, or adverse decisions relating to our products by administrators of these systems could significantly reduce reimbursement for procedures using our products or result in denial of reimbursement for those products, which could adversely affect customer demand, or the price customers are willing to pay for such products. See "Third-Party Reimbursement" under "Item 1. Business."
A global trend towards limiting growth of healthcare costs may also put industry-wide pressure on medical device or clinical diagnostic pricing. In the U.S., the Center for Medicaid Services ("CMS") has proposed the expansion of its Competitive Bidding Program ("CBP"). This proposed expansion would introduce a pricing model that could significantly influence the cost structure of some medical devices in the U.S. healthcare system; specifically, those reimbursed under CMS' Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetic, Orthotic and Supplies payment system. By leveraging supplier competition to establish payment rates, the CBP mirrors purchasing initiatives seen in international markets, where procurement strategies attempt to prioritize cost-efficiency, which could lead to uncertainty with respect to innovation, quality and patient access challenges or supplier attrition, as seen in prior bidding cycles. In addition, we expect recently enacted and proposed changes under legislative debate to Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to impact healthcare coverage, all of which if implemented could adversely affect both the demand and prices customers are willing to pay for our products. Globally, governments in China and other countries continue to use various mechanisms to control healthcare expenditures, including increased use of competitive bidding and tenders, price regulation (such as volume-based procurement programs ("VoBP")), government imposed payback provisions, and changes in reimbursement practices and policies on average selling prices for our products, which have unfavorably impacted our revenues and may continue to impact our results of operations in certain countries.
Capital Markets - Risk 2
We are subject to foreign currency exchange risk.
A substantial amount of our revenue is derived from international operations, and we anticipate that a significant portion of our future sales will continue to come from outside the U.S. The revenue we report with respect to our international operations has been, and may continue to be, affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, which are caused by a number of factors, including changes in a country's political and economic policies, such as tariffs, and inflationary conditions. Furthermore, currency exchange rates have been volatile in the recent past, and these currency fluctuations have affected, and may continue to affect, the reported value of our assets and liabilities, as well as our cash flows. A discussion of the financial impact of exchange rate fluctuations and the ways and extent to which we may attempt to address any impact is contained in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Any foreign currency exchange rate hedging activities we engage in may only offset a portion of the financial impact resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We cannot predict with any certainty changes in foreign currency exchange rates or the degree to which we can effectively manage these fluctuations.
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 4/25 (16%)Below Sector Average
Regulation2 | 8.0%
Regulation - Risk 1
Defects or quality issues associated with our products and related regulatory actions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial statements.
The design, manufacture and marketing of medical devices involve certain inherent risks. Manufacturing or design defects, component failures, unapproved or improper use of our products, or inadequate disclosure of risks or other information relating to the use of our products can lead to injury or other serious adverse events. The acquisition and integration of acquired companies increases our exposure to this risk. Such events have in the past and could in the future lead to recalls or safety alerts relating to our products (either voluntary or as required by the FDA or similar governmental authorities in other countries), and could result, in certain cases, in the removal of a product from the market. In addition, any recall could result in the establishment or increase in financial reserves, which in turn would increase financial reporting and other disclosure obligations, the loss of sales and customers, enforcement actions and/or investigations by state and federal governments or other enforcement bodies and related fines and penalties, as well as negative publicity and damage to our reputation that could reduce future demand for our products. Personal injuries relating to the use of our products can also result in significant product liability claims being brought against us. In some circumstances, such adverse events could also cause delays in regulatory approval of new products or the imposition of post-market approval requirements.
Regulation - Risk 2
We are subject to extensive regulation.
Our operations are global and are affected by complex state, federal and international laws relating to healthcare, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, antitrust, anti-corruption, marketing, fraud and abuse (including anti-kickback and false claims laws), export control, product safety and efficacy, employment, labor, privacy and data protection, taxation, the development, deployment and use of emerging technologies (such as AI) and other areas. Violations of these laws can result in criminal or civil sanctions, including substantial fines and, in some cases, exclusion from participation in healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Environmental laws, particularly with respect to climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases, are also generally becoming more stringent throughout the world, which may increase our costs of operations or necessitate closures of, or changes to, our manufacturing plants or processes or those of our suppliers, or result in liability to BD. The enactment of additional laws and reporting requirements in the future or changes in the interpretation of existing laws or regulations, may increase our compliance costs or otherwise adversely impact our operations and financial performance.
We are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, by comparable agencies in foreign countries, and by other regulatory agencies and governing bodies. Most of our products must receive authorization from the FDA or counterpart regulatory agencies in other countries before they can be marketed or sold. This process may require us to incur significant costs in terms of time and resources, and these costs have been increasing due to increased requirements from the FDA and comparable governing bodies for supporting data for submissions. The regulatory process may also require changes to our products or result in limitations on the indicated uses of our products. Governmental agencies may also impose new requirements regarding registration, including, but not limited to, labeling updates or changes to prohibited materials that require us to modify or re-register products already on the market or otherwise impact our ability to market our products in those countries. In addition, government shutdowns, recent reductions in U.S. government agency staffing and government spending more generally could impact ordinary course operations of agencies with which we interact routinely, such as the FDA. Following these reductions, the agencies may lack adequate staff and resources to meet current review, approval and inspection schedules, which could delay the receipt of or otherwise adversely affect the outcomes of product authorizations we seek.
Further, changes we have made, or may make in the future, to our products have been, or may in the future be, subject to U.S. or foreign regulatory review, including additional 510(k) clearance, PMA approval, CE Mark and other marketing authorizations (such as, but not limited to, with respect to BD AlarisTM System and infusion sets and BD VacutainerTM). We have made modifications to certain of our products in the past and have determined based on our review of our internal documentation and data and the applicable FDA or foreign regulations and guidance that in certain instances new 510(k) clearances or other premarket submissions were not required. We may make similar modifications or add additional features in the future that we believe do not require a new marketing authorization. If the FDA or a foreign regulator disagrees with our determinations, we may be required to cease marketing and/or to recall the modified product until we obtain a new marketing authorization, which could result in lost revenue, additional costs and damage to our reputation. Such non-compliance may also subject us to civil and criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties, or other actions being taken with respect to products in the field. Marketing authorization and the time needed to secure such authorization is uncertain and we may not be able to obtain such authorization on the timeline or conditions we expect or at all. Our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory clearances or approvals from the FDA or foreign regulators may be difficult and could increase the cost of compliance and impact our ability to market our products.
Following the introduction of a product, these agencies also periodically review our manufacturing processes and product performance. Our failure to comply with the applicable good manufacturing practices, adverse event reporting and other post market requirements of these agencies could delay or prevent the production, marketing or sale of our products and result in delays or suspensions of regulatory clearances, warning letters or consent decrees, closure of manufacturing sites, import bans, seizures or recalls of products, civil or criminal sanctions and damage to our reputation. More stringent oversight by the FDA and other agencies can result in increased enforcement activity, which could increase our compliance risk.
Our CareFusion 303, Inc. subsidiary is operating under an amended Consent Decree that affects our BD Alaris™ infusion pump business in the United States. We are also currently operating under two warning letters issued by the FDA for our Dispensing and Specimen Management businesses. For more information regarding the consent decree and warning letters, see "Regulation" under Item 1. Business.
As previously disclosed, on July 21, 2023, BD received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its updated BD Alaris™ Infusion System, which enabled both remediation and a return to market for the BD Alaris™ Infusion System. To address open recalls and ensure devices at customer sites are running a recent, cleared version of the BD Alaris™ Infusion System Software, BD Alaris™ Infusion System devices in the U.S. market are being remediated or replaced with the updated 510(k) cleared version, which we expect to be substantially complete over the next calendar year. The overall timing and cost of replacement or remediation of the BD Alaris™ Infusion Systems and return to market in the U.S. may be impacted by, among other things, customer readiness, supply continuity, and our continued engagement with the FDA.
In addition, the European Union ("EU") has adopted the EU Medical Device Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/745, the "EU MDR") and the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/746, the "EU IVDR"), each of which impose stricter requirements for the marketing and sale of medical devices, including in the area of clinical evidence, quality management systems and post-market surveillance. Although the EU MDR has been fully applicable for previously approved self-certified medical devices since May 2021, the application of the EU MDR has been extended until 2027 for certain devices considered higher-risk and to 2028 for other devices. This longer transition timeline applies only to devices that are transitioning to MDR and meet other specific conditions. The EU IVDR has been applicable since May 2022, but transition periods apply for certain in vitro diagnostic medical devices. Complying with and maintaining devices under these regulations requires us to incur significant expenditures. Additionally, the availability of EU-notified body services certified under the new requirements is limited, which may delay the marketing approval for some of our products under these regulations. Any such delays, or any failure to meet these requirements could adversely impact our business in the EU and other regions that tie their product registrations to EU conformity requirements.
We are also subject to complex and rapidly evolving privacy and data protection laws, regulations and standards which govern the collection, use, storage, transfer, sharing and processing of personal data (particularly sensitive health information) across the U.S. and a significant number of other countries where we operate. The nature of our technologies and data-driven solutions amplifies privacy and data protection risks, especially as we employ could-based infrastructures, AI and other emerging digital capabilities. These innovations can introduce new vectors for data exposure, algorithmic bias, and regulatory scrutiny. These laws, rules and regulations require, among other things, proactive implementation of comprehensive compliance programs, continuous enhancement of internal policies, business practices, processes, and integration of technical and organizational safeguards across all assets and activities that process personal data. These requirements often entail operational constraints and higher compliance costs and may require us to modify existing or future products, potentially impacting innovation timelines and financial performance.
Furthermore, privacy and data protection risks extend beyond our direct operations. Non-compliance by third-party vendors, manufacturers, or service providers (especially those involved in data processing) can expose us to liability indirectly. Cybersecurity incidents, system failures, or breaches involving our own infrastructure or that of our partners may trigger regulatory scrutiny, financial penalties, business interruption, reputational harm, loss of competitive advantage and customer trust, as well as privacy litigation and civil lawsuits with damages.
Finally, changes in the tax laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate could increase our tax expense and/or tax payments, increase tax uncertainty and have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development published Pillar Two Model Rules, which impose a 15% global minimum tax, that became effective in some of the jurisdictions in which we operate in fiscal year 2025, and we continue to assess their impact. Future changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws, including under Pillar Two, whether prospective or retroactive, could materially impact our effective tax rate, business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 4.0%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We are subject to lawsuits.
We are or have been a defendant in a number of lawsuits, including, among others, purported class action lawsuits for alleged antitrust violations and violations of federal securities laws, environmental and product liability claims (including pending claims relating to ethylene oxide, our hernia repair implant products, surgical continence and pelvic organ prolapse products for women, vena cava filter products and implantable ports, which involve, or could in the future involve, lawsuits seeking class action status or seeking to establish multi-district litigation or other consolidated proceedings) and suits alleging patent infringement. We also are or have been subject to government investigations and civil investigative demands seeking information with respect to alleged violations of law, including in connection with federal and/or state healthcare programs (such as Medicare or Medicaid), the federal securities laws, federal contracting requirements and/or sales and marketing practices, among other things. A more detailed description of certain litigation to which we are a party is contained in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." We could be subject to additional lawsuits, governmental investigations, subpoenas and civil investigative demands in the future. Any such lawsuits, governmental investigations, subpoenas and civil investigative demands could ultimately have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and could distract management from the operations of the business.
Accruals are established for legal proceedings to the extent losses for individual matters are probable and reasonably estimable based upon our assessment of the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes relative to these matters, as well as the potential ranges of probable losses. Given the uncertain nature of litigation generally, we are not able in all cases to reasonably estimate the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of litigation in which we are a party. Also, accruals relating to legal proceedings may change in the future as new information for an individual matter becomes available or due to changes in our litigation strategy. Given the uncertain nature of litigation, we could incur charges in excess of any currently established accruals and, to the extent available, liability insurance and any such future charges, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition and/or consolidated cash flows. In addition, even if we believe we have meritorious defenses, from time to time we engage in settlement discussions and mediation and consider settlements taking into account various factors including, among other things, developments in such legal proceedings and the resulting risks and uncertainties. These activities have resulted in settlements for certain matters and going forward could result in further settlements, any of which may be confidential and could be significant and result in charges in excess of accruals. Any such future charges, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity.
With respect to certain litigation, we believe that some settlements and judgments, as well as legal defense costs, may be covered in whole or in part under applicable insurance policies with a limited number of insurance companies, or, in some circumstances, indemnification obligations owed to us by other parties. However, amounts recovered under these arrangements may be less than the stated coverage limits or less than otherwise expected and may not be adequate to cover damages and/or costs. In addition, there is no guarantee that insurers or other parties will pay claims or that coverage or indemnity will be otherwise available. Also, for certain product liability claims or lawsuits, BD does not maintain or has limited remaining insurance coverage, and we may not be able to obtain additional insurance on acceptable terms or at all that will provide adequate protection against potential liabilities.
Environmental / Social1 | 4.0%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Climate change and related sustainability efforts, or legal, regulatory or market measures to address these efforts, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Climate change resulting from increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases ("GHG") in the atmosphere may present risks to our business and operations. Extreme weather or other conditions, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, wildfires or flooding, which may result from climate change could adversely impact our operations and supply chain, including the availability and cost of raw materials and components required for the operation of our business, as well as result in human capital issues for us and companies within our supply chain. In addition, access to (and pricing of) certain natural resources, such as water, could impact our manufacturing operations. Such conditions could also result in physical damage to our products, plants and distribution centers, as well as the infrastructure and facilities of our suppliers and of hospitals, medical care facilities and other customers.
There has also been shifting focus by federal, international, state and local regulatory and legislative bodies on combating and limiting climate change and to promote sustainability and related efforts through measures such as requiring disclosure of climate-related risks and metrics, including GHG emissions, conducting risk assessments on sustainability practices, adopting policies mandating or promoting the use of renewable or zero-carbon energy, implementing sustainability initiatives and imposing additional taxes on fuel and energy. Additional legislation or regulations in the United States and in other jurisdictions in which we and our suppliers operate may impose more stringent restrictions, and disclosure obligations. We and companies in our supply chain have experienced, and may continue to experience, increased compliance burdens and costs to meet these obligations. If we or our suppliers are unable or unwilling to comply with these obligations, it could be more difficult and/or costly to manufacture and sell certain of our products and we could experience supply chain interruptions, including impacts to sourcing and distribution. In addition, we could be subject to litigation, substantial fines and other damages if we fail to comply with these obligations, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Climate change and related regulations and sustainability efforts may also influence customer, shareholder and other stakeholder preferences and requirements, including in diverging directions. This includes increased or shifting demand for more sustainable products and for progress toward sustainability goals and GHG reduction targets, including product-level GHG emissions data. Failure to meet customer, shareholder and other stakeholder expectations or our own commitments relating to sustainability or emissions reductions could potentially result in loss of market share, reputational impacts, or challenges in attracting and retaining customers.
Production
Total Risks: 4/25 (16%)Above Sector Average
Manufacturing1 | 4.0%
Manufacturing - Risk 1
Interruption of our manufacturing or sterilization operations could adversely affect our business.
We have manufacturing sites all over the world. In some instances, however, the manufacturing of certain of our product lines is concentrated in one or a few of our plants. Interruption to our manufacturing operations resulting from system outages, cybersecurity incidents or breaches, weather or natural disasters, regulatory requirements, labor disruptions, equipment failure or other issues in our manufacturing process, could adversely affect our ability to manufacture our products. In some instances, we may not be able to transition manufacturing to other BD sites or a third party to replace the lost production. A significant interruption of our manufacturing operations could result in lost revenues and damage to our relationships with customers.
In addition, many of our products require sterilization prior to sale, and we utilize both BD facilities and third parties for this process. In some instances, only a few facilities are qualified under applicable regulations to conduct this sterilization. To the extent we or our third-party providers are unable to sterilize our products, whether due to lack of capacity, availability of materials for sterilization (including cobalt), regulatory requirements or otherwise, we may be unable to transition sterilization to other sites or modalities in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all, which could have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.
At a broader level, there is continued focus on the use and emission of ethylene oxide by the EPA and state environmental regulatory agencies. Additional regulatory requirements associated with the use and emission of ethylene oxide for sterilization may be imposed in the future, both domestically and outside the U.S. On April 5, 2024, the final National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants ("NESHAP"): Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities regulation issued by the EPA became effective. While companies were initially given two years from the effective date to comply with the new requirements of the NESHAP generally, in July 2025, the current U.S. administration issued an executive order exempting medical device sterilization facilities (including certain of our facilities) from compliance with such requirements for two years beyond the initial April 2026 compliance deadline. We implemented certain changes to our facilities in accordance with NESHAP's requirements in 2024 and 2025 and are in the process of implementing certain additional changes to our facilities to achieve compliance with such requirements by April 2028.
In addition, on April 13, 2023, the EPA published a Pesticide Registration Review: Proposed Interim Decision and Draft Risk Assessment Addendum for Ethylene Oxide. On January 14, 2025, the EPA published the Pesticide Registration Review; Interim Registration Review Decision for Ethylene Oxide ("ID"), which regulates the use of ethylene oxide as a sterilant and is intended to mitigate any human health and environmental risks associated with its use. Among other things, the ID requires medical device sterilization facilities to comply with a new and stricter occupational ethylene oxide exposure limit, establish engineering controls for worker protection, provide workers with personal protective equipment, conduct continuous stationary indoor monitoring and comply with a maximum concentration limit for ethylene oxide (with higher levels permitted if required and approved by the FDA). Compliance deadlines for the various mitigation measures required by the ID range from within 60 days to ten years of the effective date. We are in the process of assessing the impact of the ID requirements on our sterilization facilities, the third-party sterilization facilities that we utilize and our operations generally. We expect to implement certain changes at our facilities to comply with NESHAP and ID requirements, which will require us to incur additional implementation and ongoing operating costs.
This increased regulation could require us or our third-party sterilization service providers to temporarily suspend operations to install additional emissions control technology, limit the use of ethylene oxide or take other actions, which would impact our operations and further reduce the available capacity to sterilize medical devices and healthcare products, and could also result in additional costs. If any existing regulatory requirements or any such regulatory actions or rulemaking result in the suspension or interruption of our sterilization operations or at third-party medical device sterilizers we use, or otherwise limit the availability of third-party sterilization capacity, which could interrupt or otherwise adversely impact production of certain of our products or lead to civil litigation or other claims against us. We have business continuity plans in place to mitigate the impact of any such disruption, although these plans may not be able to fully offset such impact, for the reasons noted above.
Employment / Personnel1 | 4.0%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
We need to attract and retain key employees to be competitive.
Our ability to compete effectively depends upon our ability to attract and retain executives, key employees and other associates. Competition for experienced employees, particularly for persons with certain technical competencies in some geographies, can be a challenge. Additionally, we need qualified managers and skilled employees with technical, manufacturing and distribution experience to operate our business successfully. Our ability to recruit and retain such talent will depend on a number of factors, including how BD's compensation, benefits, work location, corporate culture and work environment compares with those offered by our competitors and other local employers. While there has been an improvement in what had been an intensely competitive labor market, there continues to be pressure on skilled labor in certain markets. A sustained labor shortage or increased turnover rates within our employee base has led to, and may continue to lead to, increased costs, such as an increase in overtime necessary to meet demand and increased wages and benefit costs to attract and retain skilled employees, and could negatively affect our ability to efficiently operate our manufacturing and distribution facilities and overall business. If we cannot effectively recruit and retain qualified executives and skilled employees, we could encounter operational disruptions or other negative consequences to our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Supply Chain1 | 4.0%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
A reduction or interruption in the supply of certain raw materials and components could adversely affect our operating results.
We purchase many different types of raw materials and components used in our products, some of which are not available from multiple sources. In addition, for quality assurance, cost-effectiveness and other reasons, certain raw materials and components are purchased from sole suppliers. Our reliance on sole suppliers can create greater exposure to shortages, magnify price swings and increase the difficulty of negotiating favorable terms. The price and supply of these materials and components has been, and may in the future be, impacted or disrupted for reasons beyond our control, including supplier shutdowns, supplier capacity constraints, supplier insolvencies, labor disruptions or shortages, transportation delays, inflationary pricing pressures, work stoppages, extreme weather events, tariffs and other geopolitical developments, global economic uncertainty or downturns, sanctions and trade restrictions and other governmental regulatory actions or inactions (such as in the area of materials of concern), including those taken as a result of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown, and any such changes or disruptions could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant challenges to our global transportation channels and other aspects of our global supply chain network, including to the cost and availability of energy, raw materials and components due to shortages, labor strikes and cost inflation. We continuously explore alternative routes, transportation modes and replenishment timings to preempt and mitigate associated risks, but no assurance can be given that these efforts will adequately address these challenges and disruptions.
While we work with suppliers to ensure continuity of supply and service, no assurance can be given that these efforts will be successful. In addition, due to regulatory requirements relating to the qualification of suppliers, we may not be able to establish additional or replacement sources on a timely basis or without excessive cost. The termination, reduction or interruption in supply of these raw materials and components could adversely impact our ability to manufacture and sell certain of our products, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Costs1 | 4.0%
Costs - Risk 1
Cost volatility could adversely affect our operations.
Our results of operations could be negatively impacted by volatility in the cost of raw materials, components, labor, duties, freight, energy and other production costs that, in turn, increases the costs of producing and distributing our products. New laws or regulations adopted in response to climate change, and our sustainability efforts more generally, could also increase energy, conversion and transportation costs, as well as the costs of certain raw materials and components. In particular, we purchase supplies of resins, which are oil-based components used to manufacture certain products, and any significant increase in resin costs, whether due to inflationary pressure, increase in oil prices, supply constraints, regulatory changes or otherwise, could adversely impact future operating results. In addition to increased resin costs, any future increases in oil prices could also increase our packaging and transportation costs. The overall costs of raw materials, transportation, construction, services and energy necessary for the production and distribution of our products continue to increase and be volatile. These prices may continue to fluctuate based on many factors beyond our control. While we have implemented cost containment measures, progressed selective price increases and taken other actions to mitigate these inflationary pressures in our supply chain, we may not be able to completely offset all the increases in our operational costs.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 2/25 (8%)Below Sector Average
Competition1 | 4.0%
Competition - Risk 1
The medical technology industry is very competitive.
We are a global company that faces significant competition from a wide range of existing competitors and new market entrants. These include large medical device companies with multiple product lines, some of which may have greater financial and other resources than we do, as well as firms which are more specialized than we are with respect to particular markets or product lines. Nontraditional entrants, such as technology companies, are also entering into the healthcare industry and some may have greater financial and other resources than we do. We face competition across all our product lines and in each market in which our products are sold on the basis of product features, clinical or economic outcomes, product quality, availability, price, services and other factors.
Our ability to compete is also impacted by changing customer and patient preferences and requirements, including changes in demand as a result of changes to U.S. federal and state policies (affecting products such as pharmaceuticals and vaccines), increased focus on products using materials of concern and demand for more sustainable products, and for products utilizing emerging technologies (such as AI), as well as changes in the ways healthcare services are delivered, such as the transition of more care from acute to non-acute settings and increased focus on chronic disease management. In particular, the shift of care from acute to non-acute settings may also place financial pressure on hospitals and broader healthcare systems that could result in less demand for our products. Tariffs and other cost containment efforts by governments and the private sector have led to increased competitiveness in terms of product pricing and have resulted and may continue to result in increased emphasis on products that reduce costs, improve clinical results and expand patient access. In addition, changes in regulatory or market standards, including, without limitation, data protection and cybersecurity requirements, often require significant investment for compliance. Our ability to remain competitive will depend on how well we meet these changing market and regulatory demands in terms of our product offerings and go-to-market approaches.
The medical technology industry is also subject to rapid technological change, discovery and frequent product introductions. The development of new or improved products, processes or technologies by other companies that provide better features, pricing, clinical outcomes or economic value may render our current products or subsequently developed products obsolete or less competitive. In some instances, competitors, including pharmaceutical companies, also offer (or are attempting to develop) alternative therapies for disease states that may be delivered without a medical device, such as oral GLP-1 medications.
The medical technology industry has also experienced a significant amount of consolidation, resulting in companies with greater scale and market presence than BD. Traditional distributors are also manufacturers of medical devices, providing another source of competition. In addition, healthcare systems and other providers are consolidating, resulting in greater purchasing power for these companies. As a result, competition among medical device suppliers to provide goods and services has increased. Group purchasing organizations and integrated health delivery networks have also served to concentrate purchasing decisions for some customers, which has led to downward pricing pressure for medical device suppliers. Further consolidation in the industry could intensify competition among medical device suppliers and exert additional pressure on the demand for and prices of our products.
Demand1 | 4.0%
Demand - Risk 1
Reductions in customers' research budgets or government funding may adversely affect our business.
We sell products to researchers at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, government laboratories and private foundations. Research and development spending of our customers can fluctuate based on spending priorities and general economic conditions and customers could reduce research and development spending and/or delay or avoid purchases of our products in response to economic factors. A number of these customers are also dependent for their funding upon grants from U.S. government agencies, such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health and similar agencies in other countries. The level of government funding of research and development is unpredictable and we have seen a reduction in government funding in fiscal year 2025. The availability of governmental research funding has been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by policy changes, economic conditions and governmental spending reductions, including the downsizing or reduced funding of certain government agencies. Further, an extended federal government shutdown resulting from a failure to pass budget appropriations, adopt continuing funding resolutions or raise the debt ceiling, together with any other budgetary decisions limiting or delaying government spending, could negatively impact U.S. or global economic conditions.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.