Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) have earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-three analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and twenty have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $253.8571.

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on DHR shares. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Danaher in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Leerink Partners upped their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Danaher in a research report on Monday, December 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price target for the company. HSBC raised their price target on Danaher from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $251.00 price objective on Danaher in a research note on Thursday, January 29th.

Danaher Trading Down 0.1%

DHR opened at $209.35 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $225.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $216.09. The firm has a market cap of $148.04 billion, a PE ratio of 41.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.91. Danaher has a twelve month low of $171.00 and a twelve month high of $242.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.87.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.09. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.81% and a net margin of 14.71%.The company had revenue of $6.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.14 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Danaher will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Danaher

In other news, EVP Gregory M. Milosevich sold 1,320 shares of the company’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 sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,099 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,060,642.99. This represents a 20.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 11.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Danaher

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DHR. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Danaher during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in Danaher during the second quarter worth $26,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in shares of Danaher in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.05% of the company’s stock.

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.