Danaher Corporation (DHR)
Danaher is a behind-the-scenes giant that provides the high-tech tools, testing equipment, and software used by scientists to develop and manufacture medicines.
Is Danaher Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Danaher is a behind-the-scenes giant that provides the high-tech tools, testing equipment, and software used by scientists to develop and manufacture medicines.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in emerging biotech manufacturing markets.
Significant loss of market share to cheaper competitors.
What does Danaher Corporation do?
Think of Danaher as the engine room for the life sciences industry; they make the complex machinery and consumables that labs and drug companies rely on every day. A steady stream of income comes from selling these essential tools and providing ongoing support. The figure worth following is how much they pour into research and development to keep their technology ahead of rivals.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on income and quality, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.8% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 6% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 16% of sales into profit
- !High P/E of 35 - big growth is already priced in
- Strong profit margins on products
- Essential role in the medical supply chain
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- Dependence on pharmaceutical company budgets
- Potential for regulatory changes in healthcare
- High competition in scientific equipment
What do Danaher Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Danaher Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Danaher Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Danaher Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 0.8% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Danaher Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Danaher Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-20 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-21 | $1.85 | $1.94 | Beat +5% |
| 2026-04-21 | $1.94 | $2.06 | Beat +6% |
| 2026-01-28 | $2.19 | $2.23 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-10-21 | $1.72 | $1.89 | Beat +10% |
| 2025-07-22 | $1.64 | $1.80 | Beat +9% |
| 2025-04-22 | $1.64 | $1.88 | Beat +14% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Danaher Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.What are the scenarios for Danaher Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Danaher Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong profit margins on products
- Essential role in the medical supply chain
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- High valuation relative to current earnings
- Modest dividend payout
- Slow recent revenue growth
- Dependence on pharmaceutical company budgets
- Potential for regulatory changes in healthcare
- High competition in scientific equipment
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained drop in gross margins below 50%
- A major shift in how pharmaceutical companies source their lab equipment
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.