Danaher Corporation $DHR Shares Bought by Peak Financial Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Peak Financial Advisors LLC increased its Danaher stake by 215.4% in Q4, buying 7,265 shares to own 10,638 shares worth $2.435 million (about 1.1% of the firm's portfolio).
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive—19 Buy vs. 3 Hold ratings—with an average price target of $253.55 and several firms (Leerink, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan) lifting targets into the $270–$275 range.
• Danaher beat Q4 expectations (EPS $2.23 vs. $2.14; revenue $6.84B vs. $6.79B) and raised its quarterly dividend to $0.40 from $0.32, implying a $1.60 annual payout (0.9% yield; ex-dividend Mar 27, payable Apr 24).

Peak Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR - Free Report) by 215.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,638 shares of the conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 7,265 shares during the quarter. Danaher comprises approximately 1.1% of Peak Financial Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Peak Financial Advisors LLC's holdings in Danaher were worth $2,435,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Danaher in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in Danaher during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new stake in Danaher in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in Danaher in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Danaher in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.05% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on DHR shares. Leerink Partners upped their price objective on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. HSBC boosted their target price on shares of Danaher from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, December 1st. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Danaher in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Danaher in a report on Monday, December 1st. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $270.00 price target for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Danaher from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Nineteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Danaher presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $253.55.

Insider Activity

In related 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 transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 5,099 shares in the company, valued at $1,060,642.99. The trade was a 20.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Danaher Trading Down 1.5%

Danaher stock opened at $187.18 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $211.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $214.71. The company has a market capitalization of $132.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.93. Danaher Corporation has a 52 week low of $171.00 and a 52 week high of $242.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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. Danaher had a net margin of 14.71% and a return on equity of 10.81%. The company had revenue of $6.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.79 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.14 EPS. Danaher's quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Danaher Corporation will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is a boost from Danaher's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 27th. Danaher's dividend payout ratio is 25.40%.

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.

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