DHR vs. PFE: Danaher vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Profile Item	DHR	PFE
Name	Danaher Corp.	Pfizer Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
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	167.52 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 29, 1978	June 1, 1972
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DHR

PFE

GSPC

Danaher (DHR) vs. Pfizer (PFE), 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 Pfizer (PFE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
Total Return (1Y)	11.88%	28.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.67%	6.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-2.05%	-3.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DHR

PFE

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.61%	21.72%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.35
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.31%	-58.96%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.94M	33.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DHR and PFE 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 Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.25	1.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.35	1.73

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% 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%

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.47%

Max: 109.18%
Q3: 6.23%
PFE: 4.47%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

Danaher (DHR) vs. Pfizer (PFE): 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 Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% 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%

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.34%

Max: 18.05%
PFE: 6.34%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

Danaher (DHR) vs. Pfizer (PFE): 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 Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% 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%

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.38%

Max: 83.12%
PFE: 33.38%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
ROE (TTM)	8.19%	4.47%
ROA (TTM)	4.06%	5.59%
Net Margin (TTM)	16.91%	6.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.13%	33.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)	59.36%	74.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Danaher (DHR) at -4.54% and Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.90%	-1.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.67%	-14.80%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-4.54%	-3.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-19.44%	-37.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 1.63 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 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

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.42

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
PFE: 1.42
Min: 0.10

Danaher (DHR) vs. Pfizer (PFE): 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 Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 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

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.71

Max: 1.42
PFE: 0.71
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Danaher (DHR) vs. Pfizer (PFE): 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 Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	1.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.52	0.71
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.68	1.97

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 0.67% and Pfizer (PFE) at 7.30% 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%

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.30%

PFE: 7.30%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Danaher (DHR) reports 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%

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

245.71%

PFE: 245.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.67%	7.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.17%	245.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 38.12 and Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 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

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

41.99

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
PFE: 41.99
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Danaher (DHR) at 6.32 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE 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

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
Q1: 3.01
PFE: 2.63
Min: 0.01

Danaher (DHR) vs. Pfizer (PFE): 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 Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 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

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.88

Max: 13.53
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
PFE: 1.88
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Pfizer (PFE)
Metric	DHR	PFE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	38.12	41.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.32	2.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.02	1.88
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.93%	7.76%