Third Danaher spinoff adds more value

Article Excerpt

Danaher is a great example of how a company can unlock value for shareholders with spinoffs. Since 2016, the conglomerate has completed two separate spinoffs and recently announced a third. In fact, the stock has jumped 184% in the past five years, compared to the 44% gain for the S&P 500 Index. Meantime, Danaher continues to acquire smaller businesses. We expect some of these operations will become future spinoffs. DANAHER CORP. $258 is a buy. The company (New York symbol DHR; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding 727.5 million; Market cap: $187.7 billion; Dividend yield: 0.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.danaher.com) is a leading maker of precision-testing equipment and tools. Its major customers include medical research labs and municipal water utilities. Beckman Coulter, ChemTreat, Pantone and KaVo Kerr are among its leading brands. The company has completed two separate spinoffs in the past few years: industrial products maker Fortive Corp. (New York symbol FTV) in July 2016; and dental equipment specialist Envista Holdings Corp. (New York symbol NVST)…