Why Wall Street and Jim Cramer think Danaher stock is ‘ready to go for a romp’
Danaher is finally turning the corner. CNBC’s Jim Cramer sees it. Wall Street does, too. The life sciences stock is “ready to go for a romp” after years of “nightmare” performance, Cramer said during Friday’s December Monthly Meeting for Investing Club members. Danaher — which makes tools and technologies used by pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device firms — has faced a tough few years after Covid. The company’s business was also pressured by China’s policy changes aimed at mitigating health care costs in the world’s second-largest economy. But that’s changing. Wells Fargo analysts are the latest to recognize Danaher’s recovery — raising their price target to $240 per share from from $230, implying 6% upside from Friday’s $226 close. Wells Fargo kept its hold-equivalent equaly weight rating. For 2026, the analysts are forecasting a modest organic growth acceleration in the life science tools industry due to improved biopharma spending. They also noted stabilizing academic and government demand, particularly in the United States. Analysts over at Bank of America also boosted Danaher’s price target, going to $265 from $250. They said that industry “headwinds are expected to fade and markets are expected to normalize after a myriad of persistent challenges.” Last week, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of the life-sciences tools group, starting Dahaner with a buy rating and a $265 price target. The analysts see organic revenue growth of 9.2% in 2026 compared to the consensus expectation of about 6.1% growth. Two weeks ago, Morgan Stanley started Danaher with a buy-equivalent rating and named it a top pick. Earlier this month, Cramer used Agilent Technologies to illustrate the resurgence in life sciences. On Friday, Cramer said he has made no secret of his disappointment over Danaher in the past, which was still modestly lower for 2025, during a year when the S & P 500 has gained roughly 16%. However, the strong recovery in Danaher shares since their late September lows cannot be denied. The stock gained nearly 25% during that stretch. “After spending time in the wilderness of the $180 level, I think that a lot of people feel like they’re glad to get out alive,” Cramer said. “That’s wrong.” With the stock trading in $220s now, Cramer told Club members Friday that it’s actually “a fine time to buy some Danaher, and an even finer time if it goes lower.” Danaher was one of seven out-of-favor stocks that Cramer identified as buys during the Club’s December meeting.
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