MQS Management LLC Takes Position in Danaher Corporation $DHR

MQS Management LLC acquired a new position in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 4,109 shares of the conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $779,000. Danaher accounts for about 0.5% of MQS Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Enterprise Financial Services Corp lifted its stake in Danaher by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp now owns 3,219 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $737,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank grew its position in Danaher by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 3,348 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $766,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Danaher by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,870 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $428,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. High Note Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Danaher by 19.2% in the fourth quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 292 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $67,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Danaher by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 1,104 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. 79.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings lowered Danaher from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research note on Monday. Citigroup started coverage on Danaher in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $230.00 target price for the company. Guggenheim decreased their price target on Danaher from $275.00 to $235.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Barclays dropped their price target on Danaher from $250.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded Danaher from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Monday, June 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Danaher currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $233.61.

Danaher Price Performance

DHR opened at $190.26 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.80, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.81. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $178.72 and a 200-day moving average of $201.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Danaher Corporation has a 12-month low of $160.93 and a 12-month high of $242.80.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 20th. The conglomerate reported $2.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $5.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.91% and a net margin of 14.89%.Danaher’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.88 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Danaher Corporation will post 8.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 26th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 26th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Danaher’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.95%.

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.