DHR 10-K Analysis: Why Danaher's Worst Margins Hide Its Best Cash Flows
Danaher reported its worst operating margin decline in years — down 130 basis points to 19.1%, with Life Sciences collapsing to 7.1%. But the 10-K reveals that $562 million in non-cash impairments explain 92% of the decline. Adjusted margins were flat. FCF per share rose 2.2% while EPS fell 4.5%. And exactly 8 days before filing, Danaher announced a $9.9 billion Masimo acquisition that will push leverage to ~4.4x — its highest since the financial crisis. This is not a margin story. It's a capital allocation inflection point.