How did Baxter's revenue and expenses shift in Q4 2024?

Baxter International's financial metrics for Q4 2024 show a slight increase in total revenue, while costs remained relatively stable with a minor decrease in cost of sales and a slight increase in R&D and selling, general, and administrative expenses:

1. Revenue Growth: The total revenue for Baxter International in Q4 2024 was $2.75 billion, representing a year-over-year growth of 0.01%.
2. Cost of Sales: The cost of sales decreased by 1.07%, from $1.79 billion to $1.63 billion.
3. R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses increased by 0.66%, from $127 million to $211 million.
4. Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses: These expenses also saw a slight increase of 0.11%, amounting to $761 million.
5. Profitability Implications: The slight increase in revenue and R&D expenses, while costs of sales decreased, suggests a more efficient cost structure. However, the overall increase in expenses and the slight revenue growth indicate that Baxter is focusing on innovation and maintaining its market position.