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DHR vs. VRTX: Danaher vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Profile ItemDHRVRTX
NameDanaher Corp.Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesBiotechnology
Market Capitalization161.86 billion USD138.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 29, 1978July 24, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DHR
VRTX
GSPC
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
Total Return (1Y)11.88%34.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.67%14.44%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.05%23.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.61%29.73%
Beta (5Y)0.760.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.31%-29.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.94M1.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DHR and VRTX 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.251.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.351.68

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 8.19% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% 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%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.80%

Max
109.18%
VRTX
20.80%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 30.70% 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%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.70%

VRTX
30.70%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.57% 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%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.57%

Max
83.12%
VRTX
35.57%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
ROE (TTM)8.19%20.80%
ROA (TTM)4.06%10.62%
Net Margin (TTM)16.91%30.70%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.13%35.57%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.36%54.81%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Danaher (DHR) at 2.90% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 8.90% 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. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.90%8.90%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.67%10.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)-4.54%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.44%6.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Danaher (DHR) at 1.63 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 2.34 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

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.34

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
VRTX
2.34
Min
0.10
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 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

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.31

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
VRTX
0.31
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.632.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.520.31
Net Debt / EBITDA2.680.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.21 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

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.21

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
VRTX
35.21
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 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

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.71

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
VRTX
10.71
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 6.63 carries an above-peer premium to book — VRTX 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

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.63

Max
13.53
VRTX
6.63
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Danaher (DHR) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Danaher (DHR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricDHRVRTX
P/E Ratio (TTM)38.1235.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.3210.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.026.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.93%1.69%