AZN vs. DHR: AstraZeneca vs. Danaher Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but AZN is classified in Pharmaceuticals while DHR is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

Danaher (DHR) trades as ordinary local shares, while AstraZeneca (AZN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Profile Item	AZN	DHR
Name	AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares	Danaher Corp.
Country/Region	United Kingdom	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Life Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Life Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization	289.14 billion USD	161.86 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	May 12, 1993	December 29, 1978
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZN

DHR

GSPC

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
Total Return (1Y)	12.64%	11.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	15.75%	6.67%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.63%	-2.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AZN

DHR

GSPC

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.21%	30.61%
Beta (5Y)	0.22	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-27.87%	-43.31%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.14M	3.94M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AZN and DHR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.30	0.25
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.44	0.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 22.57% and Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.57%

Max: 109.18%
AZN: 22.57%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.19%

Max: 109.18%
DHR: 8.19%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.68% and Danaher (DHR) at 16.91% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.68%

Max: 18.05%
AZN: 17.68%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.91%

Max: 18.05%
DHR: 16.91%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 29.57% and Danaher (DHR) at 21.13% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

29.57%

Max: 83.12%
AZN: 29.57%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.13%

Max: 83.12%
DHR: 21.13%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
ROE (TTM)	22.57%	8.19%
ROA (TTM)	8.59%	4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)	17.68%	16.91%
Operating Margin (TTM)	29.57%	21.13%
Gross Margin (TTM)	81.78%	59.36%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% and Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% and Danaher (DHR) at -4.54% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.63%	2.90%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.82%	-2.67%
EPS Growth (YoY)	45.33%	-4.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	45.80%	-19.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.01 and Danaher (DHR) at 1.63 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.01

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
AZN: 1.01
Min: 0.10

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.63

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
DHR: 1.63
Min: 0.10

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Danaher (DHR) at 0.52 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.66 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.66

Max: 1.42
AZN: 0.66
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.52

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
DHR: 0.52
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.01	1.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.66	0.52
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.23	2.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.73% and Danaher (DHR) at 0.67% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.73%

AZN: 1.73%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.67%

DHR: 0.67%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.38% and Danaher (DHR) at 25.17% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

45.38%

AZN: 45.38%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.17%

DHR: 25.17%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.73%	0.67%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.38%	25.17%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 26.37 and Danaher (DHR) at 38.12 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.37

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
Median: 26.69
AZN: 26.37
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

38.12

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
DHR: 38.12
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.63 and Danaher (DHR) at 6.32 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.63

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
AZN: 4.63
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.32

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
DHR: 6.32
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.59 and Danaher (DHR) at 3.02 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.59

Max: 13.53
Q3: 6.54
AZN: 5.59
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

DHR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.02

Max: 13.53
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
DHR: 3.02
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Danaher (DHR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Danaher (DHR)
Metric	AZN	DHR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.37	38.12
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.63	6.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.59	3.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.95%	2.93%