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DHR vs. GSK: Danaher vs. GSK Stock Comparison

How do Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK) 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

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

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

Company profile comparison for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
Profile ItemDHRGSK
NameDanaher Corp.GSK plc ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization161.86 billion USD100.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 29, 1978March 28, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DHR
GSK
GSPC
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK), 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 Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
Total Return (1Y)11.88%13.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.67%18.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.05%7.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DHR
GSK
GSPC
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK), 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 Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.61%26.25%
Beta (5Y)0.760.31
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.31%-37.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.94M4.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DHR and GSK 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 Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.250.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.350.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% and GSK (GSK) at 28.27% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

28.27%

Max
109.18%
GSK
28.27%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Danaher (DHR) at 16.91% and GSK (GSK) at 12.97% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

12.97%

Max
18.05%
GSK
12.97%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 21.13% and GSK (GSK) at 32.14% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.14%

Max
83.12%
GSK
32.14%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
ROE (TTM)8.19%28.27%
ROA (TTM)4.06%9.24%
Net Margin (TTM)16.91%12.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.13%32.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.36%73.79%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% and GSK (GSK) at 4.11% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

GSK (GSK) at 123.15% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Danaher (DHR) at -4.54% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GSK.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.90%4.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.67%3.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)-4.54%123.15%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.44%-27.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 1.63 and GSK (GSK) at 0.86 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.86

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
GSK
0.86
Min
0.10
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): 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 GSK (GSK) at 1.30 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
1.42
GSK
1.30
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.630.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.521.30
Net Debt / EBITDA2.681.88

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 0.67% and GSK (GSK) at 1.57% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.57%

GSK
1.57%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 25.17% and GSK (GSK) at 63.33% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

63.33%

GSK
63.33%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.67%1.57%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.17%63.33%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 38.12 and GSK (GSK) at 17.54 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.54

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
GSK
17.54
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

GSK (GSK) at 3.01 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Danaher (DHR) at 6.32 prices around its industry’s middle — GSK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.01

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
GSK
3.01
Min
0.01
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): 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 Danaher (DHR) at 3.02 and GSK (GSK) at 4.02 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.02

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
GSK
4.02
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Danaher (DHR) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Danaher (DHR) and GSK (GSK)
MetricDHRGSK
P/E Ratio (TTM)38.1217.54
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.323.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.024.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.93%5.28%