Primecap Management Co. CA Has $2.85 Million Stake in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR)

Primecap Management Co. CA cut its stake in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR) by 61.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,402 shares of the conglomerate’s stock after selling 19,535 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA’s holdings in Danaher were worth $2,847,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its position in Danaher by 4.1% during the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,229 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $342,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Danaher by 14.6% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,399 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,779,000 after buying an additional 813 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Danaher by 0.5% in the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 303,043 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $84,252,000 after buying an additional 1,499 shares during the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Danaher by 17.1% during the third quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,750 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,379,000 after acquiring an additional 2,305 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prospera Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Danaher in the third quarter worth approximately $3,757,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.05% of the company’s stock.

Danaher Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of Danaher stock opened at $209.90 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $218.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $239.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $150.02 billion, a PE ratio of 39.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.82. Danaher Co. has a 52-week low of $196.80 and a 52-week high of $281.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.05.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The conglomerate reported $2.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.14. Danaher had a net margin of 16.33% and a return on equity of 10.82%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.09 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be given a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.61%. This is a boost from Danaher’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. Danaher’s dividend payout ratio is 24.24%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on DHR shares. Guggenheim began coverage on shares of Danaher in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $275.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup reduced their price target on Danaher from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Danaher from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Danaher from $310.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Danaher from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $290.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, December 13th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $277.76.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Brian W. Ellis sold 5,700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.13, for a total transaction of $1,277,541.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 20,230 shares in the company, valued at $4,534,149.90. This trade represents a 21.98 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 10.90% of the company’s stock.

About Danaher

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.