Medical Device Giants Face Off: BSX and RMD—Which Investment Holds More Promise?

Two heavyweight players dominate the medical devices landscape today. Boston Scientific (BSX), valued at $142.4 billion, leads in cardiovascular interventions, neuromodulation, and urology solutions. Resmed (RMD), with a $35.72 billion market cap, commands the respiratory and sleep apnea treatment market. As the global medical device sector accelerates at roughly 7% annually through 2030, distinguishing which of these stronger competitors deserves investor attention requires a closer examination of their respective growth drivers and market positioning.

Valuation Tells an Interesting Story

When comparing forward Price-to-Sales ratios, both companies currently trade beneath their historical medians, suggesting potential value for discerning investors. However, earnings momentum paints subtly different pictures. Zacks Consensus projects BSX’s 2025 earnings per share will reach $3.04, representing a 21.1% year-over-year surge. Meanwhile, Resmed’s fiscal 2026 EPS estimate of $10.84 reflects a more modest 13.5% improvement, though this figure has ticked up 3.3% in the past two months.

Boston Scientific’s Competitive Advantages

BSX’s portfolio benefits from exceptional divisional strength across its Cardiovascular and MedSurg platforms. The WATCHMAN family of devices—particularly the next-generation FLX and FLX Pro variants—continues capturing substantial global mindshare in percutaneous left atrial appendage closure procedures. Management anticipates this segment will expand roughly 20% through continued adoption, supported by upcoming CHAMPION trial data (first half 2026) and the planned WATCHMAN Elite launch in late 2027 or early 2028.

The company’s electrophysiology expansion is equally noteworthy. The FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation System recently secured FDA approval for expanded labeling in treating drug-refractory persistent atrial fibrillation as of July 2025. This represents meaningful progress in capturing EP market share.

Boston Scientific’s acquisition strategy throughout 2025—including Intera Oncology, Bolt Medical, SoniVie, Cortex, Anrei Medical, and Elutia’s BioEnvelope division—demonstrates intentional portfolio strengthening while venturing into adjacencies with higher growth trajectories. Emerging markets, currently representing 15% of consolidated net sales for the first nine months of 2025, present untapped long-term opportunities across economically developing regions.

Resmed’s Innovation Engine

Resmed pursues a differentiated path through mask portfolio leadership and digital health integration. The AirFit, AirTouch, and related product families continue benefiting from aggressive education-driven resupply initiatives. Recent mask platform innovations—F30i Comfort and F30i Clear variants—mark category firsts.

Device platform performance remains robust, with AirSense 10 and AirSense 11 systems showing sustained market traction. The company’s artificial intelligence roadmap advancement includes the U.S. launch of its Dawn personal sleep health digital assistant via the myAir platform (Q1 fiscal 2026), building on Australian market success. FDA clearance for Smart Comfort—an AI-powered medical device optimizing CPAP therapy adherence—signals Resmed’s commitment to personalized treatment.

Resmed’s residential care software division gains momentum through the MEDIFOX ecosystem, Brightree platforms, and MatrixCare home health operations. Tuck-in acquisitions including Somnoware, Ectosense, and VirtuOx align with the Resmed 2030 strategic framework targeting profitability and shareholder value creation.

Recent Market Performance: A Telling Divergence

Over the trailing twelve months, BSX shares advanced 6.8%, slightly outpacing RMD’s 5.8% climb. While both remain fundamentally sound, this performance gap hints at market preference.

The Stronger Play Emerges

Analyst sentiment remains constructively bullish on both companies, reflected in rising earnings consensus estimates across the period. Yet Boston Scientific emerges as the more compelling near-term opportunity, commanding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) designation compared to Resmed’s Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). BSX’s combination of divisional momentum, transformative WATCHMAN trajectory, and strategic market expansion through high-impact acquisitions positions it as the stronger performer in the current environment.