Danaher Corporation $DHR Shares Newly Purchased by Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.

Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. acquired a new position in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 56,349 shares of the conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $12,484,000. Danaher comprises 5.4% of Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. EP Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Danaher during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,807,000. Puzo Michael J purchased a new position in Danaher in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $8,624,000. First Nebraska Trust Co purchased a new position in Danaher in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $14,106,000. Madison Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Danaher during the 2nd quarter valued at $85,451,000. Finally, Colton Groome Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Danaher during the 3rd quarter valued at $592,000. 79.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. TD Cowen increased their target price on Danaher from $236.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Danaher from $210.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 21st. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Danaher from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Danaher from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 price objective on shares of Danaher in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $235.41.

Danaher Price Performance

NYSE:DHR traded up $1.81 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $224.65. The stock had a trading volume of 3,595,884 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,457,645. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $212.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $195.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $157.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.25. Danaher Corporation has a one year low of $160.93 and a one year high of $242.80.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 20th. The conglomerate reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.09. Danaher had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 11.04%. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Danaher Corporation will post 8.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 30th. Danaher’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.42%.

Key Danaher News

Here are the key news stories impacting Danaher this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Potential earnings beat: Zacks says Danaher has a strong earnings-surprise history and currently shows the two indicators—earnings estimate revisions and an Earnings ESP reading—that can signal another quarterly beat. Analysts expect earnings growth in the upcoming report. Will Danaher Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?
• Positive Sentiment: NVIDIA collaboration supports AI strategy: Danaher announced a partnership with NVIDIA to combine its scientific instruments, laboratory automation, workflow software and domain expertise with NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and AI technologies. The goal is to advance autonomous science and speed up scientific discovery, creating a potentially important long-term growth opportunity in life-science research. Danaher Collaborates with NVIDIA to Advance Autonomous Science
• Positive Sentiment: Autonomous laboratory plans: Danaher plans to launch its first AI-powered autonomous laboratory, with commercial-scale operations expected in early 2027. The initiative could improve laboratory productivity and strengthen Danaher’s positioning in AI-enabled drug discovery, though meaningful revenue benefits are likely longer term. How to Invest in AI Drug Discovery
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst support: Morgan Stanley maintained its $240 price target for DHR, indicating continued confidence in the company’s outlook but no new change in the valuation view. Morgan Stanley Keeps $240 Target for Danaher Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Board expansion: Danaher expanded its board to 13 members and appointed new directors, a governance development with limited immediate earnings impact. Danaher Enhances Board With New Director Appointments

About Danaher

Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) is a global science and technology company that develops and manufactures products, services and solutions for the life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology industries. Its offerings help researchers, healthcare professionals and biopharmaceutical manufacturers discover, develop, produce and analyze medicines and other biological products.

The company operates through businesses that provide laboratory instruments, consumables, software and services, including technologies for cell analysis, genomics, protein research, bioprocessing and clinical diagnostics.