Baxter stock holds Neutral rating at UBS amid CEO transition questions

Published 11/06/2025, 14:36
Baxter stock holds Neutral rating at UBS amid CEO transition questions

UBS maintained its Neutral rating and $35.00 price target on Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) following a meeting with the company’s Head of Investor Relations on June 5. According to InvestingPro data, the company currently trades below its Fair Value, with analyst targets ranging from $28 to $55.

The medical products company has demonstrated momentum across its portfolio with products like Novum IQ and Progressa+ that position Baxter to maintain its mid-single-digit sales growth trajectory seen in recent quarters. The company’s revenue grew by 15.4% in the last twelve months, reaching $10.8 billion, with a gross profit margin of 39.2%.

UBS noted that despite positive product developments, significant questions remain about who will become Baxter’s new CEO and what direction the company’s post-Vantive sales strategy will take regarding both organic and inorganic investments.

The investment firm indicated these strategic uncertainties could impact Baxter’s weighted average market growth rate, making it difficult to predict meaningful sales and earnings upside from current levels.

While UBS observed that Baxter shares appear inexpensive and investor sentiment was positive during the meeting, these lingering questions about leadership and strategy led the firm to maintain its Neutral stance on the stock. InvestingPro analysis reveals several positive factors, including 55 consecutive years of dividend payments and expected profitability this year. Get access to additional ProTips and comprehensive analysis with an InvestingPro subscription.

In other recent news, Baxter International Inc. reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, surpassing Wall Street expectations with an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.55, compared to the forecast of $0.48. The company’s revenue also exceeded projections, reaching $2.63 billion against the anticipated $2.59 billion. Baxter’s adjusted operating margin saw a significant improvement, rising to 14.9%, and the company experienced robust growth in its U.S. Infusion systems and Nutrition sales. Baxter has maintained strong full-year 2025 sales and EPS guidance, expecting growth of 7-8%. The company is preparing for potential inorganic investments and a share buyback program, targeting a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 3x by year-end. Additionally, Baxter is addressing risks such as supply chain optimization challenges and anticipated tariffs, which could impact the company’s financials by $60-$70 million in 2025. Analysts have shown interest in Baxter’s strategies to mitigate these tariff impacts, and the company is focusing on cost containment and strategic capital allocation to address these concerns.

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