Reg FD Disclosure

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549     FORM 8-K     CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 19, 2026     Baxter International Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)     Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   1-4448   36-0781620 (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)   One Baxter Parkway , Deerfield , Illinois   60015 (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code) (224) 948-2000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:     ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)     ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)     ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))     ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, $1.00 par value   BAX (NYSE)   New York Stock Exchange 1.3% Global Notes due 2029   BAX 29   New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter):   ☐ Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act: ☐       Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. The presentation furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 is being provided to certain stockholders on or after March 19, 2026, as part of the Baxter International Inc. (the “Company”) stockholder engagement program. The information in Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except in the event that the Company expressly states that such information is to be considered filed under the Exchange Act or incorporates it by specific reference in such filing.   Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits.   Exhibit Number    Description 99.1    Stockholder Engagement Presentation (2026) 104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)   SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.   Date: March 19, 2026   BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.     By:   /s/ Ellen K. Bradford     Name:   Ellen K. Bradford     Title:   Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary