Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV Boosts Holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR)

Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV raised its holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 21,315 shares of the conglomerate’s stock after purchasing an additional 511 shares during the quarter. Danaher accounts for approximately 1.8% of Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV’s holdings in Danaher were worth $4,893,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DHR. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Danaher by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,229 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $342,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. United Advisor Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth about $230,000. Balentine LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth about $420,000. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc boosted its stake in shares of Danaher by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc now owns 4,660 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $1,296,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northstar Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Danaher by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Northstar Asset Management Inc. now owns 34,654 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $9,635,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. 79.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Danaher Stock Up 2.5 %

Shares of NYSE DHR opened at $210.97 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $223.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $243.63. The company has a market capitalization of $150.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.82. 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.

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

Danaher Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Danaher from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 14th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Danaher from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Danaher from $277.00 to $268.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Danaher from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $290.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Danaher from $310.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $278.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Brian W. Ellis sold 5,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the senior vice president now owns 20,230 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,534,149.90. This trade represents a 21.98 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Danaher Company 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.