Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Invests $10.88 Million in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 47,377 shares of the conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $10,875,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Danaher during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new position in Danaher in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Danaher in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Danaher during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Pineridge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Danaher by 63.3% during the 4th quarter. Pineridge Advisors LLC now owns 147 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. 79.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Danaher Stock Performance

NYSE DHR traded up $1.38 on Friday, hitting $211.63. 6,383,342 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,013,925. The business's fifty day moving average is $217.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $238.86. Danaher Co. has a 12 month low of $196.80 and a 12 month high of $281.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.08, a PEG ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.40.

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Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The conglomerate reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $2.14. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.82% and a net margin of 16.33%. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be issued a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.60%. This is an increase from Danaher's previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Danaher's payout ratio is currently 24.24%.

Insider Transactions at Danaher

In related news, SVP Brian W. Ellis sold 5,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.13, for a total transaction of $1,277,541.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 20,230 shares in the company, valued at $4,534,149.90. The trade was a 21.98 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 10.90% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DHR has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Danaher from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $260.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday. Barclays lowered their price objective on Danaher from $275.00 to $240.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Danaher from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Danaher from $280.00 to $240.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Guggenheim began coverage on Danaher in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $275.00 price target on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Danaher currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $278.24.

Danaher 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.