The BusinessWeek 50 Ranking
43
Danaher
Rapid acquisitions Profile: $1.7 billion worth in 2004 Profile: powered Danaher, a Washington (D.C.)-based conglomerate of small industrial companies. Three major purchases helped boost revenues by 33%. Sales from existing businesses grew only 8.5%. That's not too surprising, given Danaher's nitty-gritty product lines, from hand tools to leak detectors for oil tanks. Analysts have questioned the high level of goodwill on Danaher's balance sheet, and wonder how the company will maintain its acquisition-fueled growth. Danaher executives declined to comment.
Company Info
| 2004 Rank | 68 |
| STOCK INFO | DHR |
| Market Value | $16.7 BILLION |
| Total Return | (1-yr.) 21.0%
(3-yr.) 61.8% |
| 2004 sales | $6.9 BILLION |
| Sales Growth | (1-yr.) 30%
(3-yr.) 21.5% |
| Net income | $746 MILLION |
| Net Income Growth | (1-yr.) 39%
(3-yr.) 34.6% |
| Net Margin* | 10.8% |
| Return on Equity* | 16.1% |
| Industry | CAPITAL GOODS |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
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*Trailing 12 months
Company data as of 2/28/05 provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat
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Company Snapshot
Danaher Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of industrial and consumer products. It operates in three segments: Professional Instrumentation, Industrial Technologies, and Tools and Components. Professional Instrumentation segment offers professional and technical customers various products and services. This segment includes environmental, electronic test, and medical technology businesses. These businesses produce and sell compact, professional electronic test tools, and calibration equipment; water quality instrumentation and consumables, and ultraviolet disinfection systems; retail/commercial petroleum products and services, including underground storage tank leak detection systems; critical care diagnostic instruments; and a range of products used by dental professionals. Industrial Technologies segment manufactures products and subsystems that are used by original equipment manufacturers into various end-products and systems, as well by customers and systems integrators into production and packaging lines. This segment engages in motion and product identification, power quality, aerospace and defense, and sensors and controls businesses. These businesses produce and sell product identification equipment and consumables; motion, position, speed, temperature, and level instruments and sensing devices; power switches and controls; power protection products; liquid flow and quality measuring devices; safety devices; and electronic and mechanical counting, and controlling devices. Tools and Components segment produces and distributes general purpose and specialty mechanics’ hand tools. Its products include toolboxes and storage devices; diesel engine retarders; wheel service equipment; drill chucks; custom-designed headed tools and components; and precision socket screws, fasteners, and miniature precision parts. The company was organized in 1969. It was formerly known as DMG, Inc. and changed its name to Diversified Mortgage Investors, Inc. in 1978. Further, the company changed its name to Danaher Corporation in 1984. Danaher is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
No. of Employees
35,000
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