Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-three ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $253.8571.

DHR has been the topic of a number of research reports. HSBC upped their price objective on Danaher from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on shares of Danaher from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Danaher from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Danaher in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $251.00 price objective on shares of Danaher in a report on Thursday, January 29th.

Insider Transactions at Danaher

In other Danaher 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 $1,060,642.99. This trade represents a 20.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 11.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Danaher

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Danaher during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Danaher in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of Danaher in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in shares of Danaher during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. 79.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Danaher Stock Down 0.1%

Danaher stock opened at $209.35 on Friday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $225.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $216.09. 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 stock has a market cap of $148.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.54, a P/E/G 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.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $6.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.79 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.81% and a net margin of 14.71%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.14 earnings per share. As a group, 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. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. This is an increase from Danaher’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. Danaher’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.