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DHR vs. ICLR: Danaher vs. ICON Stock Comparison

How do Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR) 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 ICON (ICLR) are both classified in the Life Sciences Tools & Services sub-industry within the broader Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
Profile ItemDHRICLR
NameDanaher Corp.ICON plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization161.86 billion USD15.34 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 29, 1978May 15, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DHR
ICLR
GSPC
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR), 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 ICON (ICLR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
Total Return (1Y)11.88%30.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.67%-6.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.05%-5.40%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.61%68.62%
Beta (5Y)0.761.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.31%-76.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.94M943.50K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DHR and ICLR 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 ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.250.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.350.52

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DHR.

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%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.70%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
ICLR
4.70%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): 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 ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% 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%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.26%

Max
18.05%
ICLR
5.26%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Danaher (DHR) at 21.13% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ICON (ICLR) at 10.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.73%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
ICLR
10.73%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
ROE (TTM)8.19%4.70%
ROA (TTM)4.06%0.85%
Net Margin (TTM)16.91%5.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.13%10.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.36%23.44%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% and ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% 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. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Danaher (DHR) at -4.54% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.90%0.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.67%2.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)-4.54%-71.56%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.44%-23.82%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 1.63 and ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 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

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.32

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
ICLR
1.32
Min
0.10
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 0.52 and ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.38

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
ICLR
0.38
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): 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 ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.631.32
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.520.38
Net Debt / EBITDA2.685.55

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Danaher (DHR) reports a yield of 0.67%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Danaher (DHR) reports a payout of 25.17%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.67%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.17%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Danaher (DHR) at 38.12 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while ICON (ICLR) at 81.90 sits in the richer quartile — ICLR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

81.90

Max
85.34
ICLR
81.90
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Danaher (DHR) at 6.32 prices around its industry’s middle — ICLR 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

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.86

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
ICLR
1.86
Min
0.01
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Danaher (DHR) at 3.02 is valued near its industry’s middle — ICLR is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.68

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
ICLR
1.68
Min
-5.59
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Danaher (DHR) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Danaher (DHR) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricDHRICLR
P/E Ratio (TTM)38.1281.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.321.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.021.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.93%3.51%