Danaher (NYSE:DHR) Stock Moved Down to Hold by DZ Bank

Key Points

• DZ Bank downgraded Danaher from “strong buy” to “hold,” although the broader analyst consensus remains “Moderate Buy,” with 18 buy ratings and five holds.
• Analysts’ consensus price target is $242.91, while recent targets range from $195 to $275. Danaher shares opened at $233.72 and were near their 52-week high of $242.80.
• Danaher exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $2.11 in EPS versus the $1.92 consensus estimate; revenue rose 8.3% year over year to $6.55 billion, roughly in line with forecasts.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) was downgraded by DZ Bank from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Tuesday, Zacks reports.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Danaher from $220.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Danaher from $212.00 to $195.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Barclays increased their price objective on Danaher from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Weiss Ratings raised Danaher from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $275.00 price objective on shares of Danaher in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Eighteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $242.91.

Danaher Stock Performance

Shares of Danaher stock opened at $233.72 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $164.43 billion, a PE ratio of 38.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.63. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $218.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $201.81. Danaher has a one year low of $160.93 and a one year high of $242.80.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The conglomerate reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.19. Danaher had a net margin of 16.91% and a return on equity of 11.17%. The business had revenue of $6.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.56 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.89 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Danaher will post 8.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Danaher

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DHR. Marquette Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Danaher by 192.1% during the 3rd quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 111 shares of the conglomerate's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Danaher during the second quarter worth $25,000. Main Street Group LTD acquired a new position in Danaher in the first quarter worth $25,000. Field & Main Bank acquired a new position in Danaher in the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Evolution Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Danaher by 208.0% in the first quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 154 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the period. 79.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Danaher

Danaher Corporation NYSE: DHR is a global science and technology company that develops products, services and solutions for the life sciences, biotechnology and diagnostics markets. Its offerings help researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, healthcare providers and other organizations conduct scientific research, develop and manufacture medicines, and diagnose disease.

The company operates through businesses that provide bioprocessing equipment and technologies, laboratory instruments, consumables, analytical tools and clinical diagnostic systems.

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