Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) Holdings Lifted by M.D. Sass LLC

Key Points

• M.D. Sass LLC increased its stake in Danaher Corporation by 100.9% during Q1, owning 313,321 shares valued at approximately $64.2 million.
• Various analysts have recently issued mixed ratings on Danaher, with price targets ranging from $220.00 to $275.00, ultimately reflecting an average price target of $247.61.
• Danaher reported a quarterly earnings per share of $1.80, exceeding expectations, with revenue of $5.94 billion during the last quarter.

M.D. Sass LLC grew its position in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR - Free Report) by 100.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 313,321 shares of the conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 157,334 shares during the quarter. Danaher comprises 5.7% of M.D. Sass LLC's holdings, making the stock its 5th largest position. M.D. Sass LLC's holdings in Danaher were worth $64,231,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in DHR. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Danaher during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Danaher by 396.0% during the first quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 124 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC lifted its position in Danaher by 116.9% during the first quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 141 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new position in Danaher during the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Danaher during the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.05% of the company's stock.

Danaher Price Performance

NYSE:DHR traded up $2.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $199.51. 756,758 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,283,080. The firm's 50-day moving average is $197.75 and its 200-day moving average is $201.87. The stock has a market cap of $142.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.22. Danaher Corporation has a 1-year low of $171.00 and a 1-year high of $279.90.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The conglomerate reported $1.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.16. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.70% and a net margin of 14.21%. The company had revenue of $5.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.83 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.72 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Danaher Corporation will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating and issued a $250.00 target price on shares of Danaher in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Danaher from $240.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Danaher from $280.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. HSBC dropped their price objective on Danaher from $270.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Danaher from $230.00 to $226.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $247.61.

Insider Buying and Selling at Danaher

In other Danaher news, Chairman Steven M. Rales sold 1,250,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.74, for a total transaction of $245,925,000.00. Following the transaction, the chairman owned 3,105,808 shares of the company's stock, valued at $611,036,665.92. This represents a 28.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 11.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Danaher Company Profile

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.