Affiance Financial LLC Increases Stock Position in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR)

Affiance Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR) by 54.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,135 shares of the conglomerate’s stock after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Affiance Financial LLC’s holdings in Danaher were worth $169,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. acquired a new position in Danaher during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America acquired a new stake in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth $40,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Danaher in the third quarter valued at $50,000. Finally, Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at about $55,000. 79.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Danaher Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DHR opened at $245.95 on Friday. Danaher Co. has a one year low of $225.42 and a one year high of $281.70. The stock has a market cap of $177.65 billion, a PE ratio of 46.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.43 and a beta of 0.83. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $235.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $253.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.37.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 27th will be paid a $0.27 dividend. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 27th. Danaher’s payout ratio is 20.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on DHR shares. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Danaher from $333.00 to $311.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Danaher from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, December 14th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Danaher from $278.00 to $277.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Danaher from $275.00 to $278.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $285.55.

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.