As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the surgical equipment & consumables - diversified industry, including BD (NYSE:BDX) and its peers.

The surgical equipment and consumables industry provides tools, devices, and disposable products essential for surgeries and medical procedures. These companies therefore benefit from relatively consistent demand, driven by the ongoing need for medical interventions, recurring revenue from consumables, and long-term contracts with hospitals and healthcare providers. However, the high costs of R&D and regulatory compliance, coupled with intense competition and pricing pressures from cost-conscious customers, can constrain profitability. Over the next few years, tailwinds include aging populations, which tend to need surgical interventions at higher rates. The increasing integration of AI and robotics into surgical procedures could also create opportunities for differentiation and innovation. However, the industry faces headwinds including potential supply chain vulnerabilities, evolving regulatory requirements, and more widespread efforts to make healthcare less costly.

The 5 surgical equipment & consumables - diversified stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.3% since the latest earnings results.

Best Q4: BD (NYSE:BDX)

Founded in 1897, Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is a medical technology company that manufactures and sells a wide range of medical devices, instrument systems, and laboratory chemicals.

BD reported revenues of $5.17 billion, up 9.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue estimates.

"We delivered strong operational performance in Q1, with revenue growth, margin expansion and earnings per share all ahead of our expectations," said Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president of BD.

BD achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 6.7% since reporting and currently trades at $228.49.

Is now the time to buy BD? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Solventum (NYSE:SOLV)

Founded in 1985, Solventum (NYSE:SOLV) develops, manufactures, and commercializes a portfolio of healthcare products and services addressing critical customer and therapeutic patient needs.

Solventum reported revenues of $2.07 billion, up 1.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. The business had a strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 7% since reporting. It currently trades at $77.50.

Is now the time to buy Solventum? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: CONMED (NYSE:CNMD)

Founded in 1970, CONMED (NYSE:CNMD) designs, manufactures, and sells surgical and patient care products, specializing in minimally invasive solutions for orthopedic, general, and endoscopic surgery.

CONMED reported revenues of $345.9 million, up 5.8% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 15.3% since the results and currently trades at $62.99.

Read our full analysis of CONMED’s results here.

STERIS (NYSE:STE)

Founded in 1985, Steris (NYSE:STE) provides infection prevention, sterilization, and surgical support products for the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and research industries to ensure safety and operational efficiency.

STERIS reported revenues of $1.37 billion, up 5.6% year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced full-year EPS guidance in line with analysts’ estimates.

STERIS had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 4.8% since reporting and currently trades at $231.30.

Read our full, actionable report on STERIS here, it’s free.

Zimmer Biomet (NYSE:ZBH)

Founded in 1927 as a manufacturer of aluminum splints, Zimmer Biomet (ZBH:NYSE) designs and manufactures orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and related medical technology solutions for joint replacement, spine, and dental applications.

Zimmer Biomet reported revenues of $2.02 billion, up 4.3% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

The stock is down 2.2% since reporting and currently trades at $105.78.

Read our full, actionable report on Zimmer Biomet here, it’s free.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

Join Paid Stock Investor Research

Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here.