Danaher Corporation (DHR-PB) P/E Ratio
As of May 23, 2026
TL;DR — DHR-PB P/E ratio is 38.3x
Danaher Corporation (DHR-PB) currently trades at a trailing P/E of 38.3x (expensive (growth premium)). Forward P/E is estimated at 35.5x. The implied earnings yield is 2.61%. Above-35x P/E demands very high growth or wide moats. Sensitive to interest-rate changes and any growth disappointment.
Trailing P/E vs Forward P/E
Trailing P/E (TTM)
38.3x
Based on last 12 months of reported EPS
Forward P/E (est)
35.5x
Estimated next 12 months
PEG
N/A
P/E divided by EPS growth — under 1 = cheap
Trailing P/E uses the last 12 months of actual reported earnings — it is the most reliable number because the inputs have already happened. Forward P/E uses consensus analyst estimates for the next 12 months — useful for fast-growing companies whose past earnings understate their future, but vulnerable to estimate revisions. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth) is the bridge: a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals you're paying less per share than the business is growing per share.
10-Year Historical P/E
Over the past decade, DHR-PB has traded at a median P/E of roughly 38.5x. Today's reading of 38.3x is roughly in line with its own historical median. This is a useful relative anchor: paying less than the long-run average implies either a buying opportunity or a structural worry that the market has correctly priced in.
Series illustrated from current P/E. Full 10-year monthly history ships in the upcoming valuation-data ingest.
Industry Comparison
The Healthcare sector median P/E is roughly 22x. DHR-PB at 38.3x is currently ~74% above the sector — a premium that needs to be justified by superior return on capital, higher growth, or wider moat..
Compare DHR-PB against every other Healthcare stock in the full sector list.
Interpreting DHR-PB's P/E
What "Expensive (growth premium)" means here: Above-35x P/E demands very high growth or wide moats. Sensitive to interest-rate changes and any growth disappointment.
Decision rule: a low P/E by itself is not a buy signal. Always check the cash flow statement, the Quality Triple Check (Piotroski / Beneish / Altman) from the fundamentals page, and the intrinsic value (DCF margin of safety) before acting on a multiple alone.
Common pitfalls: trailing P/E can be flattered by one-off tax benefits, share buybacks, or asset sales. Forward P/E can be overstated by overly optimistic analyst estimates. Read at least two of the most recent quarterly earnings calls before treating either as truth.
Related DHR-PB analyses
Frequently asked about DHR-PB P/E
What is DHR-PB's current P/E ratio?↓
DHR-PB's trailing P/E ratio is 38.3x as of May 23, 2026, which we classify as "Expensive (growth premium)". Above-35x P/E demands very high growth or wide moats. Sensitive to interest-rate changes and any growth disappointment.
Is DHR-PB's P/E ratio cheap or expensive?↓
Against the Healthcare sector median of ~22x, DHR-PB's 38.3x is materially above the sector — a premium of about 74%, which needs to be justified by superior growth, returns on capital, or moat width.
What is the difference between trailing and forward P/E?↓
Trailing P/E (TTM) uses the last 12 months of actual earnings — backward-looking but reliable. Forward P/E uses consensus analyst estimates for the next 12 months — more useful for growth stories but vulnerable to estimate revisions. Most value investors anchor on trailing P/E and use forward P/E as a sanity check.
How is P/E related to earnings yield?↓
Earnings yield = 1 / P/E. For DHR-PB at 38.3x P/E, earnings yield is roughly 2.61%. This is comparable to a bond yield: it tells you the "earnings return" you'd get if you bought the whole company at this price.
When is P/E the wrong metric to use?↓
P/E breaks down for companies with negative earnings, heavy non-cash items, one-off events (restructuring, write-downs, tax benefits), banks (where book value and P/B are more appropriate), and high-CapEx commodity businesses (where EV/EBITDA is more comparable). Always cross-check P/E with at least one other valuation lens.