Baxter International Inc. BAX has been on a healthy growth trajectory, of late. Positive tidings on the regulatory front and strategic acquisitions have been providing the company with a competitive edge in MedTech. With solid prospects, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock is an attractive pick at the moment.Baxter International has outperformed the industry in the past year. The stock has gained 29.9%, outperforming the S&P 500’s 15.9% gain and the broader industry’s 16.2%.The stock has a market cap of $35.29 billion. The company’s next five-year earnings growth rate is also favorable at 12.9% compared with the 9.9% increase of the S&P 500. The company has a positive earnings surprise of 10.3% for the last four quarters. Also, it has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 12.5%.Baxter International has an impressive Growth Style Score of B as well. Our Growth Style Score highlights all the vital metrics of a company’s financials to obtain a clearer picture of the quality and sustainability of its growth. Our research shows that stocks with Style Scores of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 or 3 (Hold), offer the best investment opportunities.Let’s find out whether the recent positive trend is a sustainable one.Strategic AcquisitionThe market is upbeat about the company’s recent acquisition of the two hemostat and sealant products, RECOTHROM Thrombin topical (Recombinant) and PREVELEAK Surgical Sealant, from Mallinckrodt plc.Solid GuidanceFor 2018, Baxter estimates sales growth of approximately 6-7% at constant currency. Adjusted earnings for the full year are expected in the band of $2.72-$2.80 per share.Solid Estimate Revision TrendThe company’s estimate revision trend for the current year has been positive. In the past couple of months, 9 analysts moved north, with no movement in the opposite direction. Earnings estimates rose around 2.9% to $2.78 during the same time frame.Positive Regulatory tidingsThe market is also encouraged to note that Baxter International received the FDA approval of Bivalirudin in 0.9 percent Sodium Chloride Injection (bivalirudin).Other Key PicksOther top-ranked stocks in the broader medical sector are Bio-Rad Laboratories BIO, athenahealth, Inc. ATHN and Varian Medical Systems, Inc. VAR.Bio-Rad Laboratories sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The company has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 20%.athenahealth is another Zacks #1 Ranked player. The company has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 21.5%.Varian Medical has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 8%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2.Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest StrategiesIt's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.See Them Free>>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report athenahealth, Inc. (ATHN): Free Stock Analysis Report Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (VAR): Free Stock Analysis Report Baxter International Inc. (BAX): Free Stock Analysis Report Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.