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Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
Baxter InternationalBAX -0.28%67 Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 0.00% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus rates BAX with a GF Score™ of 67/100 and a GF Value™ of $33.00 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review. Among 378 Medical Devices & Instruments companies, Baxter International ranks better than 64.29% on this metric.
Yacktman defines forward rate of return as the normalized free cash flow yield plus real growth plus inflation. Baxter International's forward rate of return for was 0.00%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % or its related term are showing as below:
BAX'
s Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -11.8 Med: 6.33 Max: 21.13
Current: 12.61
During the past 13 years, Baxter International's highest Forward Rate of Return was 21.13. The lowest was -11.80. And the median was 6.33.
BAX's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is ranked better than 64.29% of 378
companies
in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry
Industry Median: 7.445
vs BAX: 12.61
Unlike the Earnings Yield %, the Forward Rate of Return uses the normalized Free Cash Flow of the past five years, and considers growth. The forward rate of return can be thought of as the return that investors buying the stock today can expect from it in the future.
Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Explanation
Unlike the Earnings Yield, the Forward Rate of Return uses the normalized Free Cash Flow of the past five years, and considers growth. The forward rate of return can be thought of as the return that investors buying the stock today can expect from it in the future.
For the growth part of the Forward Rate of Return calculation, GuruFocus uses the 5-year average growth rate of EBITDA per share as the growth rate, and the growth rate is always capped at 20%. For the Free Cash Flow we use per share data averaged over five years. The reason we use five years is to make it comparable to the growth rate.
Be Aware
In the Forward Rate of Return calculation, the growth rate is added directly to today's free cash flow yield. Therefore the calculation is reliable only if the company can grow at the same rate in the future as it did in the past. Investors should pay close attention to this when researching growth stocks. A more accurate measurement for return is Return on Capital.
Baxter International Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Related Terms
Baxter International Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Baxter International Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Chart
BAX vs ALGN, SOLV, COO: Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Comparison
For the Medical Instruments & Supplies subindustry, Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) %, along with its competitors' market caps and Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Baxter International Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % vs Medical Devices & Instruments Industry
For the Medical Devices & Instruments industry and Healthcare sector, Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % falls into.
Baxter International Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Calculation
Forward Rate of Return is a concept that Don Yacktman uses in his investment approach. Yacktman explained the forward rate of return concept in detail in his interview with GuruFocus. Yacktman defines forward rate of return as the normalized free cash flow yield plus real growth plus inflation. He said in the interview (March 2012, when the S&P 500 was at about 1400):
If the business is stable, this calculation is fairly straightforward. For instance, on the S&P 500 we would normalize earnings. We would then calculate what percentage of those earnings are not reinvested in the underlying businesses and are therefore free. Historically, for the S&P 500, this has been just under 50% of earnings. Currently, we expect the S&P to earn about 70 on a normalized basis, a number which is far below reported earnings due to our adjusting for record high profit margins. $70 X ½ / 1400 gives you a normalized free cash flow yield of approximately 2.5%.
The historical real growth rate of the S&P 500 (companies) is about 1.5%. Assuming an inflation rate of 2.5%, the forward rate of return on an investment in the S&P 500 is about 6.5% today (2.5% free cash flow yield plus 1.5% real growth plus 2.5% inflation).
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
What does a Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % of 0.00% mean?
Baxter International (BAX) has a Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % of 0.00% as of Jun. 2026. Yacktman's forward rate of return equals the sum of normalized free-cash-flow yield plus earnings growth. View historical data on Baxter International and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Baxter International ranks #135 out of 378 companies in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, placing it in the top 35.7%.
Is Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % too high?
Baxter International's current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 0.00%. Based on the distribution chart, Baxter International ranks #135 out of 378 companies in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Baxter International has a GF Score™ of 67/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Baxter International's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % compare to ALGN and SOLV?
According to the Medical Devices & Instruments industry distribution chart, Baxter International ranks #135 out of 378 companies for Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) %. This puts Baxter International in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 7.45. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % for a Medical Devices & Instruments company?
The median Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % among Medical Devices & Instruments companies is 7.45, based on 378 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % mean?
A high Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Yacktman's forward rate of return equals the sum of normalized free-cash-flow yield plus earnings growth. View historical data on Baxter International and its competitors. For the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, the median Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 7.45 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Baxter International's current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 0.00%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Baxter International stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Baxter International (BAX) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $33.00, compared to a current price of $26.34 — trading 20.2% below its estimated fair value. The current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 0.00%. Baxter International's overall GF Score™ is 67/100 with 9 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % calculated?
Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Baxter International (BAX), the current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 0.00% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Baxter International (BAX) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Baxter International stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $26.34 is trading 20.2% below its estimated GF Value™ of $33.00.
GuruFocus considers Baxter International to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for BAX:
Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) %: 0.00%
GF Value™: $33.00 vs. price of $26.34 (20.2% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the BAX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Baxter offers a variety of medical supplies and equipment to providers. From its legacy operations, Baxter sells injectable therapies for use in care settings, including IV pumps, administrative sets, and solutions; nutritional products; and surgical sealants and hemostatic agents. Baxter expanded its portfolio of hospital-focused offerings by acquiring Hillrom in late 2021, which added basic equipment like hospital beds, operating room equipment, and patient monitoring tools to the portfolio. Baxter also sold its kidney care tools in early 2025.
67GF Score
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