DHR vs. QGEN: Danaher vs. Qiagen Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN) 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 Qiagen (QGEN) 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 Qiagen (QGEN)
Profile Item	DHR	QGEN
Name	Danaher Corp.	Qiagen N.V.
Country/Region	United States	Netherlands
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS Industry	Life Sciences Tools & Services	Life Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Life Sciences Tools & Services	Life Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization	161.86 billion USD	10.39 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 29, 1978	June 28, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DHR

QGEN

GSPC

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN), 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 Qiagen (QGEN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
Total Return (1Y)	11.88%	17.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.67%	10.44%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-2.05%	-0.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DHR

QGEN

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.61%	35.52%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.31%	-41.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.94M	3.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DHR and QGEN 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 Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.25	0.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.35	0.60

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 10.81% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.81%

Max: 109.18%
QGEN: 10.81%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Qiagen (QGEN) at 18.20% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.20%

QGEN: 18.20%
Max: 18.05%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN) at 27.75% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.75%

Max: 83.12%
QGEN: 27.75%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
ROE (TTM)	8.19%	10.81%
ROA (TTM)	4.06%	5.68%
Net Margin (TTM)	16.91%	18.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.13%	27.75%
Gross Margin (TTM)	59.36%	67.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 5.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Qiagen (QGEN) at 409.76% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Danaher (DHR) at -4.54%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.90%	5.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.67%	-0.81%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-4.54%	409.76%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-19.44%	-0.19%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Qiagen (QGEN) 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
QGEN: 2.63
Q1: 2.47
Min: 0.10

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN) at 0.47 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.47

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
QGEN: 0.47
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	2.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.52	0.47
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.68	1.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 0.67% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 0.71% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.71%

QGEN: 0.71%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN) at 18.21% 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%

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.21%

QGEN: 18.21%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.67%	0.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.17%	18.21%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 38.12 and Qiagen (QGEN) at 27.21 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.21

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
QGEN: 27.21
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN) at 4.91 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.91

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
QGEN: 4.91
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

Danaher (DHR) vs. Qiagen (QGEN): 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 Qiagen (QGEN) at 2.99 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

QGEN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.99

Max: 13.53
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
QGEN: 2.99
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Qiagen (QGEN)
Metric	DHR	QGEN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	38.12	27.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.32	4.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.02	2.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.93%	3.62%