Stryker (SYK) vs Boston Scientific (BSX): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Boston Scientific is cheaper on earnings, at 17.0 times against 34.0; Boston Scientific keeps the higher net margin (17.5% against 13.8%); Boston Scientific grew revenue faster over the last year (13.5% against 7.9%); Stryker pays the higher dividend yield (1.1% against 0.0%). Stryker clears 3 of this site's 8 value filters and Boston Scientific 7. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Stryker and Boston Scientific compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Stryker (SYK) | Boston Scientific (BSX) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $325.87 | $42.75 | |
| Market value | $123 billion | $62.5 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 34.0 | 17.0 | BSX |
| PEG ratio | 3.07 | 0.71 | BSX |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 3.7% | 5.8% | BSX |
| Net profit margin | 13.8% | 17.5% | BSX |
| Revenue growth, last year | 7.9% | 13.5% | BSX |
| Return on equity | 15.6% | 14.9% | About the same |
| Debt to equity | 0.60 | 0.51 | BSX |
| Dividend yield | 1.1% | 0.0% | SYK |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -57.8% | -0.9% | BSX |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 3 | 7 | BSX |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.9% | -59.3% |
How have Stryker and Boston Scientific shares done against each other?
Stryker 118Boston Scientific 99
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Stryker shares are up 18% and Boston Scientific shares down 1%, so Stryker has pulled ahead of Boston Scientific by 20 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 32% for Stryker and 61% for Boston Scientific.
| Period | Stryker (SYK) | Boston Scientific (BSX) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | -7.9% | -56.8% |
| Last 3 years | +17.7% | -19.0% |
| Last 5 years | +18.0% | -0.9% |
Which has grown faster, Stryker or Boston Scientific?
Over 5 years, Stryker grew revenue 11.8% a year and earnings per share 14.9% a year; Boston Scientific grew revenue 15.2% and earnings per share n/a. Its net margin averaged 13.2% at Stryker and 10.2% at Boston Scientific.
| Measure | Stryker (SYK) | Boston Scientific (BSX) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Dec 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $14.4 billion to $25.1 billion | $9.9 billion to $20.1 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 11.8% | 15.2% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $4.20 to $8.40 | $-0.06 to $1.94 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 14.9% | n/a |
| Net margin, latest year | 12.9% | 14.4% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 13.2% | 10.2% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 17.1% | 18.2% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Stryker (SYK) | Boston Scientific (BSX) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | 19.6% a year | 8.2% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $12.09 | $2.48 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -57.8% | -0.9% |
At $325.87, Stryker's price implies free cash flow growth of 19.6% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
At $42.75, Boston Scientific's price implies free cash flow growth of 8.2% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is about the same growth as the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Stryker leads
- Higher dividend yield: 1.1% against 0.0%
- A higher average net margin: 13.2% against 10.2%
Where Boston Scientific leads
- Lower P/E: 17.0 against 34.0
- Lower PEG: 0.71 against 3.07
- Higher free-cash-flow yield: 5.8% against 3.7%
- Higher net margin: 17.5% against 13.8%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 13.5% against 7.9%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.51 against 0.60
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -0.9% against -57.8%
- More of the 8 value filters: 7 against 3
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 15.2% against 11.8%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 14.4% against 12.9%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 18.2% against 17.1%
About the same on: return on equity. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Stryker. Stryker makes medical technology: joint-replacement implants (placed with its Mako surgical robot), surgical equipment, neurovascular devices and hospital beds.
Boston Scientific. Boston Scientific makes minimally invasive medical devices for heart rhythm, cardiovascular, urology and digestive conditions, such as stents, catheters, heart-rhythm and heart-valve products.
Both are in the Health Care industry on this site.
What stands out about Stryker
- Misses 3 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (34.01), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (3.07) and EPS Growth YoY > -5% (-11.9%); the other 3 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -34% on Oct 7 to -58% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: net margin. At 13.8% (peer median 9.4%) it ranks 10th of 34 among health care stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about Boston Scientific
- Misses 1 of the 8 value filters. It fails vs 200-day MA (±12%) (-22.8%); the other 7 pass.
- Close to its 52-week low. At $42.75, BSX is 2.8% above its low of $41.58 and 59.3% below its high of $104.98.
- Insiders have been buying. 1 open-market purchase was reported in SEC Form 4 filings in the last 90 days, about $0.7 million in all.
Frequently asked questions about Stryker and Boston Scientific
Which is cheaper, Stryker or Boston Scientific?
On trailing earnings, Boston Scientific is cheaper: Stryker trades at 34.0 times and Boston Scientific at 17.0 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 3.7% and 5.8%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Stryker or Boston Scientific?
Stryker pays the higher yield: Stryker 1.1% and Boston Scientific 0.0% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Stryker or Boston Scientific?
Over their latest filed five years, Stryker grew revenue 11.8% a year and Boston Scientific 15.2%; earnings per share grew 14.9% and n/a a year.
Which has more debt, Stryker or Boston Scientific?
Stryker has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.60 for Stryker and 0.51 for Boston Scientific. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Stryker or Boston Scientific?
Boston Scientific keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 13.8% for Stryker and 17.5% for Boston Scientific, with a return on equity of 15.6% and 14.9%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Boston Scientific clears more: Stryker 3 of 8 and Boston Scientific 7 of 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, not a prediction.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Stryker and Boston Scientific). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.