Science and technology company Danaher Corporation (DHR), headquartered in Washington, D.C., designs, manufactures, and markets innovative products and services in the fields of life sciences, diagnostics, and biotechnology. The company operates through three broad segments: Biotechnology, Life Sciences, and Diagnostics.

With a market capitalization of $147.31 billion, Danaher’s offerings are used in research labs, hospitals, and industrial settings to advance scientific discovery, improve patient care, and ensure water quality and food safety. Shares of this medical technology company have declined by 22.2% over the past 52 weeks, as the company experiences a slowdown in its performance. 

For comparison, the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 19% over the same period. This year, Danaher’s stock price has declined by 8.9% year-to-date (YTD), while the S&P 500 index has increased by almost 10%.

Taking a closer look, Danaher’s shares have also been underperforming the sector-specific Robo Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETF (HTEC), which has gained 5.2% over the past 52 weeks and 4.7% YTD.

For the fiscal year 2024, Danaher’s topline declined marginally year-over-year (YOY). While the company's weak price action has coincided with an annual topline slowdown, its recent quarterly financials came in better than expected, sparking a 4.2% surge in its share on Jul. 23. For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, its sales increased by 3.4% YOY to $5.94 billion, which was better than the $5.84 billion that Wall Street analysts were expecting.

At the heart of this growth was the Danaher Business System, along with gains in its bioprocessing business. Along with its latest earnings reveal, Danaher also announced a notable executive shakeup, with a new CFO expected to take over next year and a new General Counsel already appointed.

For the fiscal year 2025, ending in December 2025, Wall Street analysts expect a modest growth in Danaher’s bottom line, forecasting a 3.9% YOY growth in its EPS to $7.77 on a diluted basis. The company has a mixed history of surpassing consensus estimates, topping them in three of the trailing four quarters and missing them on one occasion.

Among the 23 analysts covering Danaher’s stock, the consensus is a “Strong Buy.” That’s based on 19 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy” rating, and three “Holds.” The configuration of the ratings appears slightly more bullish than two months ago, when the stock had 18 “Strong Buy” ratings.

Highlighting confidence in the company’s prospects amid current market conditions, Guggenheim analyst Subbu Nambi maintained a “Buy” rating on Danaher’s stock in late July and reiterated the $250 price target. Additionally, underscoring a positive outlook, Baird analyst Catherine Schulte reaffirmed the firm’s “Outperform” rating, while raising the price target on the stock from $226 to $229.

Danaher’s mean price target of $243.33 indicates a premium of 16.3% from the current market prices. The Street-high price target of $310 implies a potential upside of 48.2%.