Becton, Dickinson and Company, commonly known as BD, makes medical devices and diagnostic equipment used across hospitals, laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturing, including syringes, needles, IV catheters and diagnostic testing systems. Its products span some of the most basic, high-volume medical supplies used in nearly every hospital and clinic, giving BD an enormous installed base and manufacturing scale that smaller device makers can't match in these categories. The company has grown through acquisitions over the years, adding businesses in areas like diagnostics and biosciences to its traditional medical supplies portfolio. BD's revenue tends to be relatively stable compared to some other medical device categories, since hospitals and healthcare systems need a continuous supply of basic medical consumables regardless of broader economic conditions.