We recently compiled a list of the 8 Best Scientific Instruments Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) stands against the other scientific instruments stocks.
A scientific instrument is a device or tool used for scientific purposes, including the study of natural phenomena and theoretical research. These instruments are designed to facilitate theoretical research and are utilized to measure, analyze, and verify the properties of materials and elements. Scientists have worked in laboratories equipped with an ever-evolving array of scientific instruments for hundreds of years. In the 1990s, benchtop automation devices spurred a surge in productivity and discoveries, further enhanced by computerized networking in the 2000s and 2010s. Today, most pharmaceutical companies’ R&D labs remain at this advanced stage, featuring sophisticated centrifuges and stations that have been instrumental in making significant health advancements.
The global scientific instrument market reached $44.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $67.5 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% during the period from 2024 to 2032. The primary driver of demand in the global scientific instrument market is the growth of the research and development sector. Additionally, increased collaboration between governments and manufacturers to equip government and university laboratories, as well as other research institutions, with the best instruments is expected to contribute to market growth. Furthermore, the integration of scientific instruments with computers enhances their functions, allows for parameter adjustments, and streamlines data sampling, collection, resolution, and analysis, thus further expanding the global demand for scientific instruments.
In addition, the scientific instruments market has been segmented into various categories. According to a report by Allied Market Research, the clinical analyzers segment is projected to generate the highest revenue from 2021 to 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of point-of-care testing devices and laboratory automation, as well as the rise in chronic conditions requiring clinical analyzers for diagnosis. Additionally, the research segment is anticipated to experience the fastest compound annual growth rate. This is due to the rising demand for scientific instruments in the research of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological diseases, along with the development of advanced instruments for research purposes.
Science heavily relies on technology, and without sophisticated instruments designed to meet the demands of experiments and test new or existing theories and models, scientific progress would stall. A prime example is the life sciences industry, which has produced groundbreaking innovations such as COVID-19 vaccines, cancer immunotherapies, glucose monitors, and pacemakers. Another emerging trend is the use of AI in laboratories. According to a report, the global life science analytics market size is projected to grow from $15.27 billion in 2023 to $43.86 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8%. Another growing trend comes in the form of Generative AI (gen AI), which is set to revolutionize nearly every aspect of the life sciences, and in turn, the scientific instruments sector. According to McKinsey, gen AI could create $60 billion to $110 billion in annual economic value for pharmaceutical and medtech companies, with $18 billion to $30 billion of that value coming from commercial functions alone.
With these details in mind, we will now take a look at the best scientific instruments stocks to buy.
Our Methodology
To compile the list of the best scientific instruments stocks to invest in, we focused on companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq that are involved in the scientific instruments industry. The stocks were ranked according to Insider Monkey’s database, which tracks 919 hedge funds as of the end of Q1 2024. The ranking is based on the ascending order of the number of hedge fund investors in each stock. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple, our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy picks 14 small and large-caps every quarter and it has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A healthcare professional in a lab coat holding a microscope and looking at a slide under the lens.
Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 98
Founded in 1984 by brothers Steven and Mitchell Rales, Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) is a diversified American conglomerate headquartered in Washington, D.C. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing medical, industrial, and commercial products and services, operating through three distinct segments: Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental & Applied Solutions.
Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) reported a strong start to 2024, with first-quarter revenue, earnings, and cash flow surpassing expectations. Q1 2024 revenue reached $5.8 billion, though core revenue declined by 4%. The company maintained a gross profit margin of 60% and an adjusted operating profit margin of 30.1%, with adjusted diluted net earnings per share at $1.92. Additionally, the company’s bioprocessing business is projected to achieve high single-digit growth by year-end, while the Diagnostics segment saw a core revenue increase of 7.5%.
Following Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR)’s first-quarter earnings report, Baird expressed a positive outlook on the company, raising the stock’s price target to $271 from $259 and reiterating an Outperform rating. Despite the better-than-anticipated results, Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) has chosen to maintain its guidance for the full year 2024, with Baird suggesting that this decision may indicate a degree of caution. Nonetheless, the medium-term outlook for DHR remains positive.
As of the end of the first quarter, 98 out of 919 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR). The largest stakeholder during this period was Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management, with a $1.8 billion investment. The stock ranks among the top 3 on our list of the best scientific instruments stocks to buy.
RGA Investment Advisors stated the following regarding Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:
“In our Q3 2023 commentary, we featured a section on our investment in Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) entitled “Purity in the Crown Jewel of Bioprocessing.” Specifically, we were speaking to Cytiva, Danaher’s bioprocessing business formed by the merger of Pall Corp and GE’s bioprocessing division. We will not repeat the features that attract us to bioprocessing in general, nor the elements of timeliness, though we will emphasize that our confidence in timeliness has actually increased since writing that piece. While Danaher has performed admirably ever since, its peer Sartorius, which was referenced by labeling bioprocessing “an oligopolistic market, with a small number of critical players and extremely high barriers to entry.”
Overall DHR ranks 2nd on our list of the best scientific instruments stocks to buy. You can visit 8 Best Scientific Instruments Stocks to Buy to see the other scientific instruments stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we acknowledge the potential of DHR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DHR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
