Danaher Stock Outlook: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Core Insights - Danaher Corporation (DHR) is a global leader in science and technology, focusing on innovation in life sciences, diagnostics, and biotechnology, with a market cap of $152.4 billion [1] Performance Overview - DHR has underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, with shares declining 8.4%, while the S&P 500 Index gained 14.5% [2] - Year-to-date, DHR's stock is down 4.4%, compared to a 16.5% return for the S&P 500 [2] - DHR has also lagged behind the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF, which saw a 3.4% increase over the past 52 weeks and a 10.3% rise year-to-date [3] Recent Financial Results - DHR's shares rose 5.9% following impressive Q3 results, with revenue increasing 4.4% year-over-year to $6.1 billion, surpassing consensus estimates [4] - The adjusted EPS for Q3 was $1.89, improving 10.5% from the previous year and exceeding analyst expectations of $1.71 [4] - Key contributors to the positive performance included DBS-driven execution, momentum in the bioprocessing business, and better-than-expected respiratory revenue at Cepheid [4] Future Earnings Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts expect DHR's EPS to grow 3.2% year-over-year to $7.72 [5] - DHR has a mixed earnings surprise history, topping consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [5] Analyst Ratings - Among 22 analysts covering DHR, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," with 18 "Strong Buy" and four "Hold" ratings [5] - Recently, Wells Fargo maintained an "Equal Weight" rating on DHR and raised its price target to $230, indicating a potential upside of 4.8% from current levels [6]