Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $238.65.

DHR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Evercore increased their target price on Danaher from $225.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Wolfe Research reduced their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $230.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Danaher from $240.00 to $212.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. TD Cowen reduced their target price on Danaher from $245.00 to $240.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of Danaher in a research note on Thursday, January 29th.

Insider Activity at Danaher

In other news, EVP Gregory M. Milosevich sold 1,320 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $208.01, for a total transaction of $274,573.20. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 5,099 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,060,642.99. This trade represents a 20.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 10.80% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Danaher

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Main Street Group LTD purchased a new position in shares of Danaher during the first quarter valued at $25,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Danaher in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Danaher in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in Danaher in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new position in Danaher in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.05% of the company’s stock.

Danaher Stock Performance

DHR stock opened at $161.95 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $186.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $210.30. Danaher has a twelve month low of $160.93 and a twelve month high of $242.80. The firm has a market cap of $114.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.32, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.81.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last released its earnings results on Monday, April 20th. The conglomerate reported $2.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.12. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.91% and a net margin of 14.89%.The business had revenue of $5.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.88 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Danaher will post 8.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 26th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Danaher’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.95%.

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.