Danaher (NYSE:DHR) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.09 EPS

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The conglomerate reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.09, Zacks reports. 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 14.44% and a return on equity of 10.92%. The company’s revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.14 earnings per share. Danaher updated its FY 2026 guidance to 8.350-8.500 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Danaher’s conference call:

• Danaher set 2026 targets of 3%–6% core revenue growth and initiated full‑year adjusted diluted EPS of $8.35–$8.50, with first‑quarter adjusted operating margin around 28.5%.
• The company expects continued strength in bioprocessing with high‑single‑digit core revenue growth in 2026—consumables remain robust (driven by monoclonal antibody demand) and equipment orders are improving toward a flat year, supported by backlog and shorter‑cycle projects.
• Diagnostics showed momentum—Cepheid respiratory revenue is modeled at about $1.8 billion for 2026 (normal season assumption), Cepheid’s non‑respiratory menu grew strongly and the company highlighted recent product wins including FDA clearance of the Xpert GI Panel and ~25% growth in new product revenue.
• Financial and margin strength: Danaher generated $5.3 billion of free cash flow in 2025 (≈145% FCF/net income conversion) and realized ~$250 million of 2025 cost actions (about $0.30 EPS benefit), achieved via productivity measures including rooftop consolidations and headcount reductions.

Danaher Stock Performance

NYSE:DHR opened at $224.00 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $158.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.19, a PEG ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $230.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $213.77. Danaher has a twelve month low of $171.00 and a twelve month high of $242.80.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 26th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Danaher’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.39%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Danaher news, Director Teri List sold 3,298 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.50, for a total value of $746,997.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 20,762 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,702,593. The trade was a 13.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 5,174 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.42, for a total transaction of $1,088,713.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 2,625 shares in the company, valued at $552,352.50. The trade was a 66.34% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 30,248 shares of company stock worth $6,609,663. Insiders own 11.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in Danaher by 6.3% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,009 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $397,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 34.5% in the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 55,418 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $10,947,000 after purchasing an additional 14,217 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC increased its position in shares of Danaher by 40.2% during the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,088 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $610,000 after purchasing an additional 886 shares during the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Danaher by 64.2% during the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 75,714 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $14,957,000 after buying an additional 29,592 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HUB Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in Danaher by 30.7% in the 2nd quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,383 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $273,000 after buying an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. 79.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $265.00 price target on shares of Danaher in a research note on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Danaher in a report on Monday, December 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Danaher from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Danaher from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Twenty research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $252.70.

Danaher News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Danaher this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat consensus: Danaher reported $2.23 EPS and revenue of $6.84B (y/y +4.5%), topping estimates and showing broad-based growth across segments. Danaher Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Bioprocessing and diagnostics momentum and strong free cash flow were highlighted on the call, supporting operational quality and potential upside as pharma spending recovers. Danaher Corp (DHR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive: several firms reiterated Buy/outperform views, pointing to core performance and bioprocessing upside despite near-term headwinds. Danaher: Solid Core Performance and Bioprocessing Upside Support Buy Rating into 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance set to $8.35–$8.50, effectively in line with the Street (consensus ~8.42), so guidance neither materially beats nor misses expectations. Danaher forecasts 2026 profit line with estimates on pharma spending recovery
• Neutral Sentiment: Management tone: the company expects a gradual improvement in pharma and other end markets but signaled uneven recovery and some caution around academic research spending. Danaher Expects Gradual Improvement In End-Market Conditions
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction: despite the beat, investors sold shares after the outlook and cautious commentary were viewed as merely in-line — weighing on the stock in premarket and intraday trading. Danaher stock drops after Q4 2025 results

About Danaher

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.