Argent Capital Management LLC Sells 10,889 Shares of Danaher Corporation $DHR

Argent Capital Management LLC reduced its position in shares of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) by 3.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 352,699 shares of the conglomerate’s stock after selling 10,889 shares during the quarter. Danaher accounts for about 2.3% of Argent Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Argent Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Danaher were worth $80,740,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Capital International Investors lifted its position in Danaher by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 16,758,240 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $3,318,926,000 after acquiring an additional 312,951 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Danaher in the 2nd quarter worth $1,979,503,000. Generation Investment Management LLP increased its holdings in shares of Danaher by 34.0% in the 3rd quarter. Generation Investment Management LLP now owns 6,654,666 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $1,319,354,000 after purchasing an additional 1,689,020 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in shares of Danaher by 4.0% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,822,442 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $952,625,000 after purchasing an additional 186,357 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 5.0% during the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 4,452,118 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $882,677,000 after purchasing an additional 211,053 shares in the last quarter. 79.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Danaher

In other news, EVP Gregory M. Milosevich sold 1,320 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.01, for a total transaction of $274,573.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 11.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Danaher Trading Down 0.6%

Danaher stock opened at $190.42 on Friday. Danaher Corporation has a 52-week low of $171.00 and a 52-week high of $242.80. The company has a market cap of $134.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.93. 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 50-day simple moving average of $215.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $214.96.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.79 billion. Danaher had a net margin of 14.71% and a return on equity of 10.81%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.14 EPS. Analysts predict that Danaher Corporation will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Danaher from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 2nd. KeyCorp restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Danaher in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Argus set a $265.00 price target on shares of Danaher in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Danaher from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Danaher in a research report on Monday, December 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price objective on the stock. Nineteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $253.55.

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.