Danaher Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) (the "Company") today announced results for the quarter ended September 27, 2024. All results in this release reflect only continuing operations unless otherwise noted.

Key Third Quarter 2024 Results

    --  Net earnings were $818 million, or $1.12 per diluted common share and
        non-GAAP adjusted diluted net earnings per common share were $1.71.
    --  Revenues increased 3.0% year-over-year to $5.8 billion and non-GAAP core
        revenue increased 0.5%.
    --  Operating cash flow was $1.5 billion and non-GAAP free cash flow was
        $1.2 billion.

Rainer M. Blair, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our team delivered strong third quarter results, including better-than-expected revenue growth. We were especially pleased with the continued positive momentum in our bioprocessing business and believe Cepheid gained market share in molecular testing again this quarter."

Blair continued, "Looking ahead, we believe the combination of our leading portfolio and DBS-driven execution differentiates Danaher and provides a strong foundation for sustainable long-term value creation while helping to meaningfully improve human health."

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Outlook

The Company provides forecasted sales only on a non-GAAP core revenue basis because of the difficulty in estimating the other components of GAAP revenue, such as currency translation, acquisitions and divested product lines.

For the fourth quarter 2024, the Company anticipates that non-GAAP core revenue will decline low-single digits year-over-year. For full year 2024, the Company continues to expect that non-GAAP core revenue will be down low-single digits year-over-year.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Danaher will discuss its third quarter results and financial guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 during its quarterly investor conference call today starting at 8:00 a.m. ET. The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be webcast on the "Investors" section of Danaher's website, www.danaher.com, under the subheading "Events & Presentations" and additional related materials will be posted to the same section of Danaher's website. A replay of the webcast will be available in the same section of Danaher's website shortly after the conclusion of the presentation and will remain available until the next quarterly earnings call.

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 800-245-3047 within the U.S. or by dialing +1 203-518-9765 outside the U.S. a few minutes before the 8:00 a.m. ET start and telling the operator that you are dialing in for Danaher's earnings conference call (Conference ID: DHRQ324). A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and until November 5, 2024. You can access the replay dial-in information on the "Investors" section of Danaher's website under the subheading "Events & Presentations."

ABOUT DANAHER

Danaher is a leading global life sciences and diagnostics innovator, committed to accelerating the power of science and technology to improve human health. Our businesses partner closely with customers to solve many of the most important health challenges impacting patients around the world. Danaher's advanced science and technology - and proven ability to innovate - help enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and help reduce the time and cost needed to sustainably discover, develop and deliver life-changing therapies. Focused on scientific excellence, innovation and continuous improvement, our approximately 63,000 associates worldwide help ensure that Danaher is improving quality of life for billions of people today, while setting the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow. Explore more at www.danaher.com.

NON-GAAP MEASURES AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this earnings release also contains non-GAAP financial measures. Calculations of these measures, explanations of what these measures represent, the reasons why we believe these measures provide useful information to investors, a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, as applicable, and other information relating to these non-GAAP measures are included in the supplemental reconciliation schedule attached.

In addition, this earnings release, our Form 10-Q, the slide presentation accompanying the related earnings call, non-GAAP reconciliations and a note containing details of historical and anticipated, future financial performance have been posted to the "Investors" section of Danaher's website (www.danaher.com) under the subheading "Quarterly Earnings."

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical, including the statements regarding the anticipated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, the Company's positioning for sustainable long-term value creation and any other statements regarding events or developments that we believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things: unanticipated, further declines in demand for our COVID-19 related products, the impact of global health crises, the impact of our debt obligations on our operations and liquidity, deterioration of or instability in the global economy, the markets we serve and the financial markets, uncertainties with respect to the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence in our business and products, uncertainties relating to national laws or policies, including laws or policies to protect or promote domestic interests and/or address foreign competition, contractions or growth rates and cyclicality of markets we serve, competition, our ability to develop and successfully market new products and technologies and expand into new markets, the potential for improper conduct by our employees, agents or business partners, our compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including rules relating to off-label marketing and other regulations relating to medical devices and the health care industry), the results of our clinical trials and perceptions thereof, our ability to effectively address cost reductions and other changes in the health care industry, our ability to successfully identify and consummate appropriate acquisitions and strategic investments, our ability to integrate the businesses we acquire and achieve the anticipated growth, synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions, contingent liabilities and other risks relating to acquisitions, investments, strategic relationships and divestitures (including tax-related and other contingent liabilities relating to past and future IPOs, split-offs or spin-offs), security breaches or other disruptions of our information technology systems or violations of data privacy laws, the impact of our restructuring activities on our ability to grow, risks relating to potential impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, currency exchange rates, tax audits and changes in our tax rate and income tax liabilities, changes in tax laws applicable to multinational companies, litigation and other contingent liabilities including intellectual property and environmental, health and safety matters, the rights of the United States government with respect to our production capacity in times of national emergency or with respect to intellectual property/production capacity developed using government funding, risks relating to product, service or software defects, product liability and recalls, risks relating to our manufacturing operations and fluctuations in the cost and availability of the supplies we use (including commodities) and labor we need for our operations, our relationships with and the performance of our channel partners, uncertainties relating to collaboration arrangements with third-parties, the impact of deregulation on demand for our products and services, the impact of climate change, legal or regulatory measures to address climate change and our ability to address stakeholder expectations relating to climate change, labor matters and our ability to recruit, retain and motivate talented employees representing diverse backgrounds, experiences and skill sets, non-U.S. economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors (including the impact of military conflicts), disruptions and other impacts relating to man-made and natural disasters, inflation and the impact of our By-law exclusive forum provisions. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in our SEC filings, including our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2024. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and except to the extent required by applicable law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise.


                                                       
         
              DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                                     
        
             CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS


                                                   
        
           ($ and shares in millions, except per share amounts)


                                                                 
            
              (unaudited)




                                                                         Three-Month Period Ended                                        Nine-Month Period Ended


                                                            September 27,                           September 29,        September 27,                           September 29,
                                                                 2024                                     2023                  2024                                     2023



            Sales                                                 $5,798                                   $5,624               $17,337                                  $17,485



            Cost of sales                                        (2,397)                                 (2,349)              (7,021)                                 (7,230)



            Gross profit                                           3,401                                    3,275                10,316                                   10,255



            Operating costs:



            Selling, general and administrative                  (2,060)                                 (1,728)              (5,736)                                 (5,294)
    expenses



            Research and development                               (383)                                   (362)              (1,142)                                 (1,096)
    expenses



            Operating profit                                         958                                    1,185                 3,438                                    3,865



            Nonoperating income (expense):



            Other income (expense), net                              102                                     (47)                    7                                     (38)



            Interest expense                                        (87)                                    (70)                (217)                                   (201)



            Interest income                                            4                                       79                   103                                      186



            Earnings before income taxes                             977                                    1,147                 3,331                                    3,812



            Income taxes                                           (159)                                   (207)                (518)                                   (712)



            Net earnings from continuing                             818                                      940                 2,813                                    3,100
    operations



            Earnings from discontinued                                 -                                     189                                                           585
    operations, net of income taxes



            Net earnings                                             818                                    1,129                 2,813                                    3,685



            Mandatory convertible preferred stock                      -                                                                                                 (21)
    dividends



            Net earnings attributable to common                     $818                                   $1,129                $2,813                                   $3,664
    stockholders



            Net earnings per common share from
    continuing operations:



            Basic                                                  $1.13                                    $1.27                 $3.83                                    $4.19



            Diluted                                                $1.12                                    $1.26                 $3.80                    (a)             $4.15



            Net earnings per common share from
    discontinued operations:



            Basic                                 
        $               -                                   $0.26    
     $              -                                   $0.80



            Diluted                               
        $               -                                   $0.25    
     $              -                                   $0.79   (a)



            Net earnings per common share:



            Basic                                                  $1.13                                    $1.53                 $3.83                                    $4.98   (a)(b)



            Diluted                                                $1.12                                    $1.51                 $3.80                    (a)             $4.94



            Average common stock and common
    equivalent shares outstanding:



            Basic                                                  723.0                                    739.4                 733.8                                    735.4



            Diluted                                                729.4                                    745.9                 740.1                                    742.1



     (a)   Net earnings per common share amounts for the relevant three-month periods do not add to the nine-month
            period amount due to rounding.


     (b) 
     Net earnings per common share amounts do not add due to rounding.

This information is presented for reference only. A complete copy of Danaher's Form 10-Q financial statements is available on the Company's website (www.danaher.com).


                                                                                       
              
                DANAHER CORPORATION


                                                                      
              
                RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES





              
                
                  Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share and Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share
                
                 (1)

    ---



                                                                                                                                        Three-Month Period Ended                            Nine-Month Period Ended


                                                                                                                         September 27,                            September 29,  September 27,                      September 29,
                                                                                                                              2024                                      2023            2024                                2023



              
                Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share                                                                $1.12                                     $1.26           $3.80                               $4.15
    From Continuing Operations (GAAP)



              Amortization of acquisition-related                                                                                0.57                                      0.49            1.65                                1.49
    intangible assets A



              Fair value net (gains) losses on                                                                                 (0.14)                                     0.06          (0.01)                               0.06
    investments B



              Impairments C                                                                                                      0.30                                                     0.30                                0.06



              Acquisition-related items D                                                                                           -                                                    0.03



              Tax effect of the above adjustments E                                                                            (0.14)                                   (0.10)         (0.37)                             (0.30)



              Discrete tax adjustments F                                                                                            -                                     0.01          (0.06)                               0.03



              Rounding                                                                                                              -                                                                                       0.01



              
                Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per                                                                    $1.71                                     $1.72           $5.34                               $5.50
    Common Share From Continuing
    Operations (Non-GAAP)




     
     (1) For the nine-month period ended September 29, 2023, each of the per share amounts above have been calculated assuming the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock ("MCPS") had been converted into shares of
              common stock prior to their conversion on April 17, 2023.  Net earnings from continuing operations per diluted common share for the relevant three-month periods may not add to the year-to-date amounts
              due to rounding.



     
     Notes to Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures




        A                                                              Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets in the following historical periods ($ in millions) (only the pretax amounts set forth below
                                                                        are reflected in the amortization line item above):

                              Three-Month Period Ended                           Nine-Month Period Ended


                September 27,                          September 29,  September 27,                      September 29,
                     2024                                    2023            2024                                2023



     Pretax             $414                                    $367          $1,223                              $1,111


      After-tax           341                                     301           1,008                                 909



     B Net (gains) losses on the Company's equity and limited partnership investments recorded in the following historical periods ($ in millions) (only the pretax amounts set forth below are reflected in
        the fair value net (gains) losses on investments line above):

                              Three-Month Period Ended                          Nine-Month Period Ended


                September 27,                          September 29, September 27,                      September 29,
                     2024                                    2023           2024                                2023



     Pretax           $(103)                                    $48           $(7)                                $43


      After-tax          (82)                                     36            (9)                                 32



     C Impairment charges related to a trade name in the Life Sciences segment recorded in the three and nine-month periods ended September 27, 2024 ($222 million pretax as reported in this line item, $169 million
        after-tax) and technology and other assets in the Biotechnology segment recorded in the nine-month period ended September 29, 2023 ($42 million pretax as reported in this line item, $32 million after-
        tax).


     D Costs incurred for the fair value adjustment to inventory related to the acquisition of Abcam plc for the nine-month period ended September 27, 2024 ($25 million pretax as reported in this line item, $19
        million after-tax).


     E This line item reflects the aggregate tax effect of all nontax adjustments reflected in the preceding line items of the table.  In addition, the footnotes above indicate the after-tax amount of each
        individual adjustment item.  Danaher estimates the tax effect of each adjustment item by applying Danaher's overall estimated effective tax rate to the pretax amount, unless the nature of the item and/or
        the tax jurisdiction in which the item has been recorded requires application of a specific tax rate or tax treatment, in which case the tax effect of such item is estimated by applying such specific tax
        rate or tax treatment.  The MCPS dividends are not tax deductible and therefore the tax effect of the adjustments does not include any tax impact of the MCPS dividends.


     F There were no discrete tax adjustments and other tax-related adjustments for the three-month period ended September 27, 2024 as excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation were offset by other
        discrete tax charges.  Discrete tax adjustments and other tax-related adjustments for the nine-month period ended September 27, 2024, include net discrete tax benefits of $45 million related primarily to
        excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statutes of limitation and changes in estimates associated with prior period
        uncertain tax positions.  Discrete tax adjustments and other tax-related adjustments for the three-month period ended September 29, 2023, include the impact of a net discrete tax charge of $5 million due
        principally to tax costs related to the separation of the Environmental & Applied Solutions business and changes in estimates associated with prior period uncertain tax positions, partially offset by excess
        tax benefits from stock compensation.  Discrete tax adjustments and other tax-related adjustments for the nine-month period ended September 29, 2023, include the impact of a net discrete tax charge of $24
        million due principally to tax costs related to the separation of the Environmental & Applied Solutions business, tax costs related to legal and operational actions taken to realign certain businesses and
        changes in estimates associated with prior period uncertain tax positions, partially offset by excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation and interest on prior year tax refunds.



              
                
                  Average and Adjusted Average Common Stock and Common Equivalent Diluted Shares Outstanding

    ---


              
                (shares in millions)




                                                                                                                                 Three-Month Period Ended                           Nine-Month Period Ended


                                                                                                                  September 27,                           September 29,  September 27,                      September 29,
                                                                                                                       2024                                     2023            2024                                2023



              Average common stock and common                                                                            729.4                                    745.9           740.1                               742.1
    equivalent shares outstanding - diluted
    (GAAP) 2



              Converted shares 3                                                                                             -                                                                                       3.4



              Adjusted average common stock and                                                                          729.4                                    745.9           740.1                               745.5
    common equivalent shares outstanding -
    diluted (non-GAAP)




     
     (2) The impact of the MCPS calculated under the if-converted method was anti-dilutive for the nine-month period ended September 29, 2023, and as such, 3.4 million weighted average shares underlying the MCPS
              were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS and the related MCPS dividends of $21 million were included in the calculation of net earnings for diluted EPS.  As of April 17, 2023, all outstanding
              shares of the MCPS converted into 8.6 million shares of the Company's common stock.



     
     (3) The number of converted shares assumes the conversion of all MCPS and issuance of the underlying shares applying the "if-converted" method of accounting and using the actual conversion rates as of September
              29, 2023.



       
                
                  Sales Growth (Decline) by Segment and Core Sales Growth (Decline) by Segment

    ---



                                                                                                                         % Change Three-Month Period Ended September 27, 2024 vs.
                                                                                                                                                 Comparable
                                                                                                                                    2023 Period


                                                                                                                                                
              
                Segments


                                                                                                           Total Company       Biotechnology                                Life Sciences Diagnostics



       Total sales growth (decline) (GAAP)                                                                        3.0 %             (0.5) %                                        4.5 %       5.0 %



       Impact of:



       Acquisitions                                                                                             (2.5) %                 - %                                     (7.0) %         - %



       Currency exchange rates                                                                                      - %              0.5 %                                        0.5 %         - %



       Core sales growth (decline) (non-GAAP)                                                                     0.5 %                 - %                                     (2.0) %       5.0 %




                                                                                                                          % Change Nine-Month Period Ended September 27, 2024 vs.
                                                                                                                                                 Comparable
                                                                                                                                    2023 Period


                                                                                                                                                
              
                Segments


                                                                                                           Total Company       Biotechnology                                Life Sciences Diagnostics



       Total sales (decline) growth (GAAP)                                                                      (1.0) %             (9.5) %                                        1.5 %       4.0 %



       Impact of:



       Acquisitions                                                                                             (2.0) %                 - %                                     (6.5) %         - %



       Currency exchange rates                                                                                    1.0 %               1.0 %                                        1.5 %       1.0 %



       Core sales (decline) growth (non-GAAP)                                                                   (2.0) %             (8.5) %                                      (3.5) %       5.0 %



       
                
                  Forecasted Core Sales Decline

    ---



                                                                                % Change Three-Month              % Change Year Ending
                                                                    Period Ending December
                                                                              31,                     December 31, 2024 vs.
                                                                  2024 vs. Comparable 2023           Comparable 2023 Period
                                                                            Period



       Core sales decline (non-GAAP)                                              -Low-single digit                 -Low-single digit



              
                
                  Cash Flow from Continuing Operations and Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations

    ---


              
                ($ in millions)




                                                                                                                                            Three-Month Period Ended                       Year-over-
                                                                                                                                                                                     Year
                                                                                                                                                                                    Change


                                                                                                                              September 27,                          September 29,
                                                                                                                                   2024                                    2023



              
                Total Cash Flow from Continuing Operations:



              Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations                                                  $1,513                                  $1,447
    (GAAP)



              Total cash used in investing activities from continuing operations                                                    $(606)                                 $(315)
    (GAAP)



              Total cash (used in) provided by financing activities from continuing                                                 $(845)                                 $2,443
    operations (GAAP)





              
                Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations:



              Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations                                                  $1,513                                  $1,447              ~ 4.5 %
    (GAAP)



              Less: payments for additions to property, plant & equipment (capital                                                   (298)                                  (354)
    expenditures) from continuing operations (GAAP)



              Plus: proceeds from sales of property, plant & equipment (capital                                                         11                                       4
    disposals) from continuing operations (GAAP)



              Free cash flow from continuing operations (non-GAAP)                                                                  $1,226                                  $1,097             ~ 12.0 %

We define free cash flow from continuing operations as operating cash flows from continuing operations, less payments for additions to property, plant and equipment from continuing operations ("capital expenditures") plus the proceeds from sales of plant, property and equipment from continuing operations ("capital disposals").

Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Measures

Each of the non-GAAP measures set forth above should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for or superior to, the comparable GAAP measure, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Management believes that these measures provide useful information to investors by offering additional ways of viewing Danaher Corporation's ("Danaher" or the "Company") results that, when reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measure, help our investors:

    --  with respect to Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share,
        understand the long-term profitability trends of our business and
        compare our profitability to prior and future periods and to our peers;
    --  with respect to core sales, identify underlying growth trends in our
        business and compare our sales performance with prior and future periods
        and to our peers; and
    --  with respect to free cash flow from continuing operations (the "FCF
        Measure"), understand Danaher's ability to generate cash without
        external financings, strengthen its balance sheet, invest in its
        business and grow its business through acquisitions and other strategic
        opportunities (although a limitation of free cash flow is that it does
        not take into account the Company's debt service requirements and other
        non-discretionary expenditures, and as a result the entire free cash
        flow amount is not necessarily available for discretionary
        expenditures).

Management uses the non-GAAP measures referenced above to measure the Company's operating and financial performance, and uses core sales and non-GAAP measures similar to Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share from Continuing Operations and the FCF Measure in the Company's executive compensation program.

The items excluded from the non-GAAP measures set forth above have been excluded for the following reasons:

    --  With respect to Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share:
        --  Amortization of Intangible Assets: We exclude the amortization of
            acquisition-related intangible assets because the amount and timing
            of such charges are significantly impacted by the timing, size,
            number and nature of the acquisitions we consummate. While we have a
            history of significant acquisition activity we do not acquire
            businesses on a predictable cycle, and the amount of an
            acquisition's purchase price allocated to intangible assets and
            related amortization term are unique to each acquisition and can
            vary significantly from acquisition to acquisition. Exclusion of
            this amortization expense facilitates more consistent comparisons of
            operating results over time between our newly acquired and long-held
            businesses, and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer
            companies. We believe however that it is important for investors to
            understand that such intangible assets contribute to sales
            generation and that intangible asset amortization related to past
            acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible
            assets have been fully amortized.
        --  Restructuring Charges: We exclude costs incurred pursuant to
            discrete restructuring plans that are fundamentally different (in
            terms of the size, strategic nature and planning requirements, as
            well as the inconsistent frequency, of such plans) from the ongoing
            productivity improvements that result from application of the
            Danaher Business System. Because these restructuring plans are
            incremental to the core activities that arise in the ordinary course
            of our business and we believe are not indicative of Danaher's
            ongoing operating costs in a given period, we exclude these costs to
            facilitate a more consistent comparison of operating results over
            time.
        --  Other Adjustments: With respect to the other items excluded from
            Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share from Continuing
            Operations, we exclude these items because they are of a nature
            and/or size that occur with inconsistent frequency, occur for
            reasons that may be unrelated to Danaher's commercial performance
            during the period and/or we believe that such items may obscure
            underlying business trends and make comparisons of long-term
            performance difficult.
    --  With respect to adjusted average common stock and common equivalent
        shares outstanding, Danaher's MCPS mandatorily converted into Danaher
        common stock on the mandatory conversion date of April 17, 2023 (unless
        converted or redeemed earlier in accordance with the terms of the
        applicable certificate of designations). With respect to the calculation
        of Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share from Continuing
        Operations, we apply the "if converted" method of share dilution to the
        MCPS in all applicable periods irrespective of whether such preferred
        shares would be dilutive or anti-dilutive in the period. We believe this
        presentation provides useful information to investors by helping them
        understand the net impact on Danaher's earnings per share-related
        measures irrespective of the period.
    --  With respect to core sales, (1) we exclude the impact of currency
        translation because it is not under management's control, is subject to
        volatility and can obscure underlying business trends, and (2) we
        exclude the effect of acquisitions and divested product lines because
        the timing, size, number and nature of such transactions can vary
        significantly from period-to-period and between us and our peers, which
        we believe may obscure underlying business trends and make comparisons
        of long-term performance difficult.
    --  With respect to the FCF Measure, we deduct payments for additions to
        property, plant and equipment (net of the proceeds from capital
        disposals) to demonstrate the amount of operating cash flow for the
        period that remains after accounting for the Company's capital
        expenditure requirements.

The Company provides forecasted sales only on a non-GAAP core revenue basis because of the difficulty in estimating the other components of GAAP revenue, such as currency translation, acquisitions and divested product lines.

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SOURCE Danaher Corporation