Analysts Set Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) PT at $253.86

Shares of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-three ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $253.8571.

DHR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Danaher from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Danaher from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Danaher from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Danaher from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Argus set a $265.00 target price on Danaher in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Danaher news, EVP Gregory M. Milosevich sold 1,320 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.01, for a total value of $274,573.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,099 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,060,642.99. The trade was a 20.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 11.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Danaher

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DHR. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Danaher during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,979,503,000. Viking Global Investors LP grew its position in shares of Danaher by 543.9% during the 2nd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 2,907,515 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $574,351,000 after buying an additional 2,455,994 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 104.7% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,333,056 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $991,923,000 after buying an additional 2,216,789 shares during the period. Generation Investment Management LLP raised its holdings in shares of Danaher by 56.2% in the second quarter. Generation Investment Management LLP now owns 4,965,646 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $980,914,000 after acquiring an additional 1,787,522 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Danaher by 11.2% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 15,076,796 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $3,451,380,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517,904 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.05% of the company’s stock.

Danaher Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of DHR opened at $210.28 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The business has a fifty day moving average of $225.33 and a 200 day moving average of $216.28. The company has a market cap of $148.70 billion, a PE ratio of 41.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.93. Danaher has a 52-week low of $171.00 and a 52-week high of $242.80.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.79 billion. Danaher had a net margin of 14.71% and a return on equity of 10.81%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.14 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Danaher will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 27th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. This is a boost from Danaher’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Danaher’s payout ratio is 25.40%.

Danaher Company Profile

Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) is a global science and technology company that designs, manufactures and markets products and services for the life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental and applied markets. The company organizes its operations into business segments focused on Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental & Applied Solutions, supplying instruments, reagents, software and related services that support research, clinical testing, biopharmaceutical development, and industrial and environmental monitoring.

Products and services in Danaher’s portfolio include analytical and diagnostic instruments, laboratory consumables and reagents, digital and software solutions for workflow and data management, field and industrial monitoring equipment, and service and maintenance programs.