Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. Acquires 5,362 Shares of Danaher Corporation $DHR

Key Points

• Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel raised its Danaher stake by 3.0%, buying 5,362 shares to hold 182,598 shares worth $36.279 million, about 1.3% of its portfolio and its 25th largest holding.
• Danaher increased its quarterly dividend to $0.40 (from $0.32), a $1.60 annualized payout with a 0.8% yield and an ex-dividend date of March 27.
• Danaher beat quarterly estimates with $2.23 EPS versus $2.14 expected and $6.84B revenue (up 4.6% YoY); analysts remain broadly bullish with a consensus price target near $253.86 and predominantly Buy ratings.

Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. raised its holdings in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR - Free Report) by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 182,598 shares of the conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 5,362 shares during the quarter. Danaher makes up about 1.3% of Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc.'s holdings in Danaher were worth $36,279,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of DHR. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Danaher in the second quarter worth $26,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in Danaher during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd bought a new position in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Tripletail Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Danaher in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors own 79.05% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Gregory M. Milosevich sold 1,320 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were 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 of the company's stock, valued at $1,060,642.99. This represents a 20.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 11.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Danaher Price Performance

Danaher stock opened at $198.85 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.45, a PEG ratio of 2.64 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 debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.87. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $221.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $215.95.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.14 EPS. Danaher's revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Danaher Corporation will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This is an increase from Danaher's previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. Danaher's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.40%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on DHR. HSBC lifted their price objective on Danaher from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Danaher in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Argus set a $265.00 price objective on shares of Danaher in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Danaher from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Twenty equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $253.86.

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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.