Baxter International stock trades above analyst target

Published on 09/29/2026 at 07:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Baxter International stock stood at USD 23.49 on September 28, 2026, above the USD 22.45 consensus target. Q2 revenue reached USD 2.96 billion, up 5 percent.

Moderner Infusionsraum mit IV-Pumpen und Tropfständern in einer Klinik — Baxter International Inc. betreibt moderne Infusionstherapie-Räume mit IV-Pumpen und sterilen US0673431090 Medizinprodukten weltweit, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Baxter International stock (ISIN US0673431090) closed at USD 23.49 on September 28, 2026, up USD 0.12 or 0.51 percent from the prior close. The more important signal for investors is operational: Q2 revenue reached USD 2.96 billion, up 5 percent year over year, and management raised its 2026 outlook.

Guidance moves higher

According to Yahoo Finance on September 7, 2026, Baxter lifted reported 2026 sales growth guidance from 0% to 1% to 3% to 4%. Organic sales growth guidance moved to 2% to 3%, while adjusted EPS guidance increased from USD 1.85 to USD 2.05 to USD 1.95 to USD 2.15.

The Q2 result contained both progress and a qualification. Adjusted EPS was USD 0.56, compared with USD 0.59 in the prior-year quarter, while a USD 75 million tariff refund contributed USD 0.11 per diluted share. That one-time benefit means the guidance increase is not purely a recurring earnings improvement.

Margins remain the test

The same Yahoo Finance report said Medical Products and Therapies generated USD 2.08 billion of sales with 5% organic growth, while Healthcare Systems and Technologies produced USD 801 million and 4% organic growth. Advanced Surgery delivered USD 331 million of revenue and 12% organic growth.

Profitability remains the central counterweight. Adjusted gross margin fell 210 basis points year over year to 38.6%, and adjusted operating margin declined 90 basis points to 14.2% in Q2 2026, leaving the turnaround dependent on volume, cost actions and better inventory flow-through.

Analyst target stays below stock

MarketBeat lists a Hold consensus from 13 analysts and an average 12-month target of USD 22.45. That target is USD 1.04 below the September 28 closing price, while published targets span USD 15.00 to USD 28.00.

Stock remains above yearly low

Baxter stock closed at USD 23.49 on the NYSE on September 28, 2026, with a session range of USD 23.11 to USD 23.82. The 52-week range was USD 15.73 to USD 30.00, and market capitalization stood at USD 12.1 billion.