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Danaher Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 lowered, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net earnings and per-share earnings rose: Net earnings were $1.2 billion, or $1.71 per diluted share, up 34.5%. The $1.71 matches continuing operations, where the year-earlier figure was $1.27 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 11.5%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.11 against $1.89. Management tied the double-digit growth to accelerating core revenue excluding respiratory and DBS-driven execution. Source
  • Core revenue grew 3.0% overall: Core revenue rose 3.0%, and 5.5% excluding respiratory revenue. Acquisitions added 6.5 points to total sales growth of 8.5%, and tariff refunds to customers added 1.0 point. Source
  • Free cash flow up about 19%: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $1,632 million against $1,370 million, after capital expenditures of $255 million against $292 million. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance rose to $8.57 to $8.62 from $8.45 to $8.60, after the second-quarter increase from $8.35 to $8.55. Source
  • Core growth guidance lowered: Full-year total core growth is now about 2.5%, against 3.0% to 4.0% previously. Fourth-quarter total core growth is about 3.0%, against mid-single digit previously. Source
  • Julie Sawyer Montgomery named CEO: Julie Sawyer Montgomery is shown as President and Chief Executive Officer and describes her time with teams and customers during her transition into the role. Source

“We delivered better-than-expected third quarter revenue, earnings and cash flow, and are encouraged by the improving trends we saw across our end markets.”

Julie Sawyer Montgomery, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Core revenue excluding respiratory revenue SourceFourth quarter 20264.0% to 5.0%Kept
Total company core revenue growth SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately 3.0%Lowered from +Mid-single digit
Impact of respiratory testing on core growth SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately 150 basis point headwind
Total company core revenue growth SourceFull year 2026approximately 2.5%Lowered from 3.0% to 4.0%
Life Sciences core sales growth SourceFourth quarter 2026+4.0% to +5.0%
Life Sciences core sales growth SourceFull year 2026+3.0% to +4.0%Kept
Diagnostics core sales growth SourceFourth quarter 2026 and full year 2026Up slightly (fourth quarter); approximately flat (full year)
Adjusted operating profit margin SourceFourth quarter 2026 and full year 2026, as listed togetherapproximately 29.5%Raised from approximately 26.5%
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share SourceFull year 2026$8.57 to $8.62Raised from $8.45 to $8.60
Impact of currency exchange rates on sales SourceFull year 2026approximately +1.0%Raised from approximately +0.5%
Impact of currency exchange rates on sales SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately flat
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets SourceFull year 2026approximately $(1,900) millionKept
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately $(500) million
Corporate expense SourceFull year 2026approximately $(355) million
Corporate expense SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately $(90) million
Interest expense, net SourceFull year 2026approximately $(305) million
Interest expense, net SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately $(120) million
Effective tax rate SourceFourth quarter 2026 and full year 2026approximately 17.0%Kept
Average adjusted diluted shares SourceFull year 2026approximately 708 million
Respiratory testing sales SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately $400 millionLowered from approximately $500 million
Respiratory testing sales SourceFull year 2026approximately $1,500 millionLowered from approximately $1,600 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance was raised to $8.57 to $8.62 from $8.45 to $8.60. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year total company core growth moved to about 2.5% from 3.0% to 4.0%, and fourth-quarter total company core growth to about 3.0% from mid-single digit. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted operating profit margin is shown at about 29.5%, against about 26.5% in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Core sales growth excluding respiratory testing remains guided at 4.0% to 5.0% for the fourth quarter and mid-single digit for the full year. Source
  • New: Beginning with the third-quarter 10-Q, tariff refunds returned or to be returned to customers are excluded from core sales growth measures. Source
  • New: Julie Sawyer Montgomery is named President and Chief Executive Officer in this release; the second-quarter release named Rainer M. Blair in that role. Source
  • New: Special long-term growth equity awards were granted in the third quarter to founders, certain executive officers and other key leaders. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net earnings and per-share earnings rose: Net earnings were $1.2 billion, or $1.71 per diluted share, up 34.5%. The $1.71 matches continuing operations, where the year-earlier figure was $1.27 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 11.5%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.11 against $1.89. Management tied the double-digit growth to accelerating core revenue excluding respiratory and DBS-driven execution. Source
  • Core revenue grew 3.0% overall: Core revenue rose 3.0%, and 5.5% excluding respiratory revenue. Acquisitions added 6.5 points to total sales growth of 8.5%, and tariff refunds to customers added 1.0 point. Source
  • Nine-month sales and earnings rose: Nine-month sales were $18,770 million against $17,730 million, and nine-month net earnings were $3,134 million against $2,417 million. Source
  • Discontinued operations added earnings: Earnings from discontinued operations were $28 million net of tax, taking net earnings to $1,235 million from $1,207 million from continuing operations. Source

Segments and business lines

  • Biotechnology and Life Sciences core growth: Core sales grew 5.0% in Biotechnology, 4.5% in Life Sciences and 0.5% in Diagnostics. Total company core growth was 3.0%. Source
  • Diagnostics growth mostly from acquisitions: Diagnostics total sales grew 17.0%, with acquisitions and divestitures adding 16.5 points. Life Sciences grew 4.0% and Biotechnology 0.5% in total sales. Source
  • Respiratory drag on Diagnostics core: Excluding respiratory testing, total core growth was 5.5% and Diagnostics core growth was 7.0%. Respiratory testing was a 6.5-point headwind to Diagnostics core sales. Source
  • Biotechnology tariff refunds excluded: Biotechnology GAAP sales grew 0.5%, with tariff refunds to customers adding 4.0 points. Those refunds are excluded from core growth starting this quarter. Source

“The continued acceleration in core revenue growth excluding respiratory revenue, together with DBS-driven execution drove double-digit adjusted EPS growth and underscored our ability to convert improving demand into strong financial performance.”

Julie Sawyer Montgomery, President and Chief Executive Officer

Respiratory testing sales

  • Respiratory sales lower year on year: Respiratory testing sales were approximately $350 million in the third quarter 2026, against approximately $500 million a year earlier. Full-year 2025 respiratory sales were approximately $1,900 million. Source
  • Respiratory forecast reduced: Fourth-quarter respiratory sales are now expected at approximately $400 million, against approximately $500 million in the second-quarter release. Full-year sales are now approximately $1,500 million against $1,600 million.
  • Respiratory headwind to fourth-quarter core: Management expects respiratory revenue to be about a 150-basis-point headwind to fourth-quarter core growth, compared with a flat impact previously forecast. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Selling and admin costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $2,159 million from $1,991 million, while operating profit was $1,245 million against $1,154 million. Source
  • Masimo inventory adjustments excluded: Fair value adjustments to inventory were $84 million pretax in the quarter and $130 million for nine months, related to the Masimo acquisition and excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Gross profit grew with sales: Gross profit was $3,837 million against $3,523 million, after cost of sales rose to $2,717 million from $2,530 million. Source
  • Tax line turned to a benefit: Income taxes were a $75 million benefit, against a $168 million charge a year earlier, on earnings before income taxes of $1,132 million. Source
  • Interest expense and income rose: Interest expense rose to $135 million from $67 million, and interest income rose to $31 million from $3 million. Source

“Danaher has built a strong foundation, and the time I’ve spent with our teams and customers during my transition into the CEO role has only reinforced my conviction in the opportunities ahead.”

Julie Sawyer Montgomery, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and share count

  • Free cash flow up about 19%: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $1,632 million against $1,370 million, after capital expenditures of $255 million against $292 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow and conversion: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $1,886 million against $1,662 million, a conversion ratio to net earnings of 1.56 against 1.83. Source
  • Investing outflows rose for nine months: Cash used in investing activities for continuing operations was $10,696 million for nine months, against $812 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Average diluted shares were 706.8 million for the quarter against 713.7 million, and 708.5 million for nine months against 717.9 million. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year guidance

  • Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance rose to $8.57 to $8.62 from $8.45 to $8.60, after the second-quarter increase from $8.35 to $8.55. Source
  • Core growth guidance lowered: Full-year total core growth is now about 2.5%, against 3.0% to 4.0% previously. Fourth-quarter total core growth is about 3.0%, against mid-single digit previously. Source
  • Adjusted margin guided higher: Adjusted operating profit margin is shown at about 29.5% for the fourth quarter and full year, against about 26.5% in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Core excluding respiratory held: Core growth excluding respiratory testing remains guided at 4.0% to 5.0% for the fourth quarter and mid-single digit for the full year, unchanged from the prior release. Source
  • Below-the-line full-year assumptions: Full-year assumptions include about $1.9 billion of amortization, corporate expense of about $355 million, net interest of about $305 million, a 17.0% tax rate and about 708 million diluted shares. Source

Leadership and equity awards

  • Julie Sawyer Montgomery named CEO: Julie Sawyer Montgomery is shown as President and Chief Executive Officer and describes her time with teams and customers during her transition into the role. Source
  • Special equity awards granted in Q3: Special long-term growth awards were granted in the third quarter to founders, certain executive officers and other key leaders, with vesting terms and amounts that differ from typical annual grants. Source
  • Cancellation charge within corporate expense: Corporate expense includes about $200 million of stock-based compensation for the special awards, which is inclusive of a $185 million charge for awards that have been canceled. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments and definitions

  • Amortization excluded from adjusted EPS: Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets was $513 million pretax in the quarter, or $0.73 per diluted share, and is excluded from adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • Acquisition-related items excluded: Acquisition-related items were $0.12 per diluted share in the quarter and $0.29 for nine months. Impairments were $0.07 per share in the quarter. Source
  • Discrete tax benefits excluded: Net discrete tax benefits of $263 million in the quarter, mainly reserve releases after audit settlements, are excluded from adjusted results, a $0.37 per share adjustment. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 October 2026

  • Guidance discussed on investor call: The company will discuss third-quarter results and fourth-quarter and full-year 2026 guidance on its investor call starting 8:00 a.m. ET today. Source
  • StatLab acquisition closing expected: The second-quarter release expected the StatLab acquisition by Leica Biosystems to close by the end of 2026. The third-quarter release does not update this timing.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Respiratory testing sales, third quarter 2026 Sourceapproximately $350 million
Respiratory testing sales, full year 2026 estimate Sourceapproximately $1,500 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said respiratory testing demand depends on influenza severity, which management does not control, and this affects respiratory sales from period to period. Source
  • Operational: A $52 million pretax impairment on a Biotechnology facility was recorded in the quarter and in the nine months. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said third-quarter revenue, earnings and cash flow were better than its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The second-quarter release set this exit rate. The third-quarter release gives fourth-quarter total core growth of about 3.0% and does not restate the exit rate.
  • Ahead: The second-quarter release said the Masimo acquisition completed earlier than anticipated, enabling higher full-year EPS guidance at that time.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.