DC
DANAHER CORP /DE/ (DHR)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 delivered a clean beat: revenue $5.94B (+3.5% YoY; core +1.5%) vs S&P Global consensus ~$5.84B, and adjusted EPS $1.80 vs ~$1.64; GAAP EPS was $0.77 due to a $432M LS trade name impairment . EPS/revenue beats marked with an asterisk in tables are from S&P Global estimates.*
- Management raised FY25 adjusted EPS guidance to $7.70–$7.80 (from $7.60–$7.75), maintained FY core growth ~3%, and guided Q3 core growth low-single digits; Q3 adjusted OPM ~25.5% .
- Bioprocessing remained the key engine (segment core +6%; consumables low double-digit; book-to-bill ≈1), while Life Sciences softened (-2.5% core) and Diagnostics posted +2% core with Cepheid’s non-respiratory assays growing double digits and installed base >60,000 .
- Costs/tariffs managed effectively (structural cost-out $150M for FY, ~half realized YTD; tariff exposure now “a couple hundred million,” net neutral in China in Q2), supporting margin resiliency despite macro/tariffs/VBP in China .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Bioprocessing momentum: “positive trends in our order book,” consumables low double-digit growth, book-to-bill around 1, and 1H fall-through >50%; management reaffirmed high single-digit 2H growth and LT outlook .
- Diagnostics ex-respiratory strength: Cepheid non-respiratory grew double digits with strong adoption (sexual health/urology/HAI) and >60,000 installed instruments; MVP vaginitis panel grew >75% in U.S. .
- Cash generation: Q2 FCF $1.09B on $1.34B CFO; YTD FCF-to-net income conversion 143% underscoring quality of earnings and cash conversion .
- Quote: “Strong growth in our Bioprocessing business and disciplined cost management enabled us to exceed our expectations for the quarter.” — CEO Rainer Blair .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP profitability diluted by impairments: $432M LS trade name impairment (EPS +$0.60 adjustment) and other items reduced GAAP EPS to $0.77; adjusted EPS $1.80 .
- Life Sciences softness: segment core -2.5% on weaker genomics consumables (plasmids/mRNA from two large customers) and ongoing academic/government funding pressure; step-up required in 2H (roughly $150M bridge) .
- China diagnostics headwinds: VBP/reimbursement changes drove declines; management still expects ~$150M adverse VBP impact in 2025 (no deterioration vs plan) .
Financial Results
Headline P&L and Estimate Comparison
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Margins and Cash Flow
Segment Performance (Core Sales Growth YoY)
KPIs and Operating Highlights
- Bioprocessing: Consumables low double-digit growth; equipment down as customers digest capacity; book-to-bill ≈1; >75% of bioprocessing tied to mAbs; 2H bioprocess core growth high single-digit expected .
- Cepheid: Installed base >60,000; non-respiratory assays low-to-mid-teens growth expected for FY; MVP panel +75%+ in U.S.; FY respiratory guide maintained at ~$1.7B .
- Pricing: Biotech segment 1H price ~1.5–2%; similar or slightly better in 2H assumed .
Guidance Changes
Note: Company also disclosed currency translation contributions to revenue growth assumptions of ~1.5% (Q3) and ~1.0% (FY) in non-GAAP outlook context .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategy and execution: “Strong execution using the Danaher Business System … robust growth in our Bioprocessing business and disciplined cost management” .
- Portfolio resilience: “Majority of our revenues [are] consumables … specified into regulated manufacturing processes” supporting recurring mix and cash flow .
- Bioprocessing outlook: “Orders … fully supportive of a high single-digit core growth in the second half … reaffirming [high single-digit] long-term growth” .
- Diagnostics mix: “Non-respiratory revenue grew double digits … MVP panel grew over 75% in the U.S.” and installed base now “more than 60,000 instruments” .
- Guidance philosophy: Holding back ~$0.15–$0.20 potential EPS from better respiratory/FX until visibility improves; flowed through ~$0.20 from cost actions and 1H FX .
Q&A Highlights
- Bioprocess orders/book-to-bill: Book-to-bill ≈1; consumables up low double-digits; equipment orders lumpy; 2H core growth high single-digit expected .
- Pricing and cadence: Biotech 1H price ~1.5–2%; typical seasonal step-down in Q3 volumes/margins, step-up in Q4 .
- Life Sciences 2H bridge: ~$150M step-up split ~1/3 genomics comps, ~1/3 China tools stimulus, ~1/3 new products .
- Respiratory and FX: Maintaining ~$1.7B respiratory guide; at current FX and respiratory, implied un-flowed EPS tailwind ~$0.15–$0.20 for 2H if sustained .
- Tariffs: Exposure now “a couple hundred million”; Q2 net neutral in China; plan to offset if paid .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: Revenue $5.94B vs ~$5.84B*; adjusted EPS $1.80 vs ~$1.64* — both beats. Q1 2025 also beat on revenue and EPS vs consensus. Consensus for Q3 at the time of report: revenue ~$6.00B*, EPS ~$1.72* (context for near-term expectations).
- Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Implications: Street likely lifts FY25 EPS toward the high end on bioprocessing strength, cost-out execution, and non-respiratory Dx momentum; watch for potential upward bias if FX/respiratory remain favorable, which management has not yet flowed through .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Bioprocessing remains the alpha: consumables growth, supportive orders, and reaffirmed high single-digit 2H/LT outlook position DHR to outgrow tools peers through the cycle .
- Diagnostics pivot to durable ex-respiratory growth is taking hold; installed base scale and menu expansion (e.g., MVP) support sustained double-digit non-respiratory growth .
- Life Sciences troughing dynamics should ease in 2H via easier comps, China stimulus, and new launches (SCIEX/Beckman CLS), but execution on the ~$150M bridge is key .
- FY guide quality improved: EPS raised to $7.70–$7.80; potential incremental $0.15–$0.20 not yet reflected if FX/respiratory stay favorable, offering upside optionality .
- Tariff/VBP overhangs are contained/managed; structural cost-out ($150M) tracks to plan, supporting margin durability amidst macro volatility .
- Near-term focus: Q3 core LSD growth and ~25.5% adj OPM; watch Life Sciences step-up evidence and any updates to respiratory sizing heading into seasonally strong Q4/Q1 .
- Leadership continuity: CFO transition announced for Feb-2026 with seasoned internal successor; governance changes unlikely to disrupt financial strategy .
Additional detail on non-GAAP adjustments and reconciliations, segment core growth, cash flow, and guidance is available in the Q2 press release/8‑K exhibits .