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Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Hold Rating On Shares Of Baxter International Inc.

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CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We lower our price target to $19 from $23, using a forward P/E of 9.5x our 2027 EPS view, a sizable discount to BAX's 10-year historical forward average. We slightly adjust our 2026 EPS estimate to $2.00 from $1.96 and maintain our 2027 EPS estimate at $1.99. Baxter delivered mixed Q1 results that reflected ongoing operational challenges despite management's transformation efforts, in our view. Sales of $2.7 billion rose 3% on a reported basis but declined 1% organically. EPS was $0.36, a 35% Y/Y decrease from the prior year, reflecting significant headwinds from tariffs, higher manufacturing costs, and an unfavorable comparison with Q1 2025. We think that BAX could be in the early stages of a turnaround focused on stabilizing the business and strengthening the balance sheet. Yet, we see the potential for a slowdown in U.S. hospital capital spending due to macroeconomic uncertainties along with continued softer demand for inhaled anesthesia products globally as important risks.

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