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DHR vs. ILMN: Danaher vs. Illumina Stock Comparison

How do Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN) 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 Illumina (ILMN) 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 Illumina (ILMN)
Profile ItemDHRILMN
NameDanaher Corp.Illumina Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
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 USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 29, 1978July 28, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DHR
ILMN
GSPC
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN), 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 Illumina (ILMN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
Total Return (1Y)11.88%79.70%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.67%28.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.05%-10.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.61%48.47%
Beta (5Y)0.761.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.31%-82.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.94M2.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DHR and ILMN 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 Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.251.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.352.25

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% and Illumina (ILMN) at 32.39% 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.39%

Max
109.18%
ILMN
32.39%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Illumina (ILMN) at 19.72% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Danaher (DHR) at 16.91% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.72%

ILMN
19.72%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Illumina (ILMN) at 20.02% 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.02%

Max
83.12%
ILMN
20.02%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
ROE (TTM)8.19%32.39%
ROA (TTM)4.06%8.32%
Net Margin (TTM)16.91%19.72%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.13%20.02%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.36%67.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Illumina (ILMN) at -0.66% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Danaher (DHR) reports EPS growth of -4.54%, ranked against its industry; Illumina (ILMN) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.90%-0.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.67%-1.78%
EPS Growth (YoY)-4.54%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.44%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Illumina (ILMN) at 2.63 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Danaher (DHR) at 1.63 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DHR.

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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
ILMN
2.63
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Illumina (ILMN) at 0.74 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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.74

Max
1.42
ILMN
0.74
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.632.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.520.74
Net Debt / EBITDA2.680.85

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Illumina (ILMN) 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Illumina (ILMN) 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.67%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.17%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 38.12 and Illumina (ILMN) at 36.68 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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.68

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
ILMN
36.68
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Danaher (DHR) at 6.32 and Illumina (ILMN) at 7.10 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.10

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
ILMN
7.10
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Danaher (DHR) at 3.02 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Illumina (ILMN) at 10.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — ILMN is pricier on assets.

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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.30

Max
13.53
ILMN
10.30
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricDHRILMN
P/E Ratio (TTM)38.1236.68
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.327.10
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.0210.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.93%2.67%