Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB Increases Holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR)

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR - Free Report) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 38,422 shares of the conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 2,347 shares during the quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB's holdings in Danaher were worth $8,820,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC boosted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 3.2% during the third quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 1,231 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Meridian Financial Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Danaher by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Meridian Financial Partners LLC now owns 957 shares of the conglomerate's stock valued at $266,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Danaher by 3.4% in the third quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 1,243 shares of the conglomerate's stock valued at $346,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Well Done LLC increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 1.2% in the third quarter. Well Done LLC now owns 3,551 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $987,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Finally, Waypoint Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Danaher by 0.9% in the third quarter. Waypoint Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,520 shares of the conglomerate's stock valued at $1,257,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. 79.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Brian W. Ellis sold 5,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.13, for a total value of $1,277,541.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 20,230 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,534,149.90. This trade represents a 21.98 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 11.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on DHR. UBS Group reduced their target price on Danaher from $309.00 to $305.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Danaher from $280.00 to $240.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on Danaher in a research report on Monday, December 23rd. They set a "sector perform" rating and a $265.00 target price for the company. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Danaher from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Danaher from $277.00 to $268.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Danaher currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $278.00.

Danaher Stock Up 0.3 %

NYSE DHR traded up $0.60 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $202.22. The stock had a trading volume of 7,207,744 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,373,626. The stock has a market cap of $146.06 billion, a PE ratio of 38.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.83. 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 Co. has a 1 year low of $196.80 and a 1 year high of $281.70. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $231.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $250.62.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The conglomerate reported $2.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting 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 quarter last year, the business earned $2.09 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Danaher Co. will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 27th were paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 27th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.53%. Danaher's payout ratio is currently 20.45%.

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.