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.
| Profile Item | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Danaher Corp. | GSK plc ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 161.86 billion USD | 100.88 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 29, 1978 | March 28, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.61% | 26.25% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.76 | 0.31 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.31% | -37.63% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.94M | 4.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.25 | 0.36 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.35 | 0.56 |
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%
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.63 | 0.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.52 | 1.30 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.68 | 1.88 |
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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DHR | GSK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 38.12 | 17.54 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.32 | 3.01 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.02 | 4.02 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.93% | 5.28% |