Skip to content
KStart free
AI InfrastructureDefenseQuantumAll studies →

DHR US Equity

Danaher Corp /de/Information Technology · Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, and Control · CIK 313616 · FY ends Dec 31
$218.85
+2.94 (+1.36%)
USD · as of 2026-08-21 · marketstack

DHR · 10-K · period ended 2024-12-31

← all DHR documents
filed 2025-02-20 · EDGAR original ↗

Our rendering of the filing — original pagination and typography are not reproduced, and tables are reduced to their short label cells (the figures live on FA). Nothing is summarized: every line below is the filing's own text.

blocks 5021,101 of 1,643433k characters rendered

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is designed to provide material information relevant to an assessment of Danaher’s financial condition and results of operations, including an evaluation of the amounts and certainty of cash flows from operations and from outside sources. The MD&A is designed to focus specifically on material events and uncertainties known to management that are reasonably likely to cause reported financial information not to be necessarily indicative of future operating results or of future financial condition. This includes descriptions and amounts of matters that have had a material impact on reported operations, as well as matters that are reasonably likely based on management’s assessment to have a material impact on future operations. The Company’s MD&A is divided into five sections:

•Overview

•Results of Operations

•Liquidity and Capital Resources

•Critical Accounting Estimates

•New Accounting Standards

This discussion and analysis should be read together with Danaher’s audited financial statements and related Notes thereto as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 included in this Annual Report. Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for 2022 is included in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K with respect to the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be referred to for information regarding that period.

Unless otherwise indicated, all financial results in this report refer to continuing operations.

OVERVIEW

General

Refer to “Item 1. Business—General” for a discussion of Danaher’s strategic objectives and methodologies for delivering long-term shareholder value. Danaher is a multinational business with global operations. During 2024, approximately 58% of Danaher’s sales were derived from customers outside the United States. As a diversified, global business, Danaher’s operations are affected by worldwide, regional and industry-specific economic, political and geopolitical factors. Danaher’s geographic and industry diversity, as well as the range of its products and services, help mitigate the impact of any one industry or the economy of any single country, other than the United States, on its consolidated operating results. The Company’s individual businesses monitor key competitors and customers, including to the extent possible their sales, to gauge relative performance and the outlook for the future.

As a result of the Company’s geographic and industry diversity, the Company faces a variety of opportunities and challenges, including rapid technological development (particularly with respect to computing, automation, artificial intelligence, mobile connectivity and digitization) in most of the Company’s served markets, the expansion and evolution of opportunities in high-growth markets, trends and costs associated with a global labor force, consolidation of the Company’s competitors and regulatory changes. The Company operates in a highly competitive business environment in most markets, and the Company’s long-term growth and profitability will depend in particular on its ability to expand its business in high-growth geographies and higher-growth market segments, identify, consummate and integrate appropriate acquisitions and identify and consummate appropriate investments and strategic partnerships, develop innovative and differentiated new products and services with higher gross profit margins, expand and improve the effectiveness of the Company’s sales force, continue to reduce costs and improve operating efficiency and quality, and effectively address the demands of an increasingly regulated global environment. The Company is making significant investments, organically and through acquisitions and investments, to address the rapid pace of technological change in its served markets and to globalize its manufacturing, research and development and customer-facing resources (particularly in high-growth markets) in order to be responsive to the Company’s customers throughout the world and improve the efficiency of the Company’s operations.

Business Performance

Consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were flat and core sales decreased 1.5% as compared to 2023. Acquisitions contributed 2.0% to sales in 2024 compared to 2023, and were largely offset by core revenue declines led by the Biotechnology segment, and to a lesser extent the Life Sciences segment, partially offset by higher core sales in the Diagnostics segment. The impact of currency translation decreased reported sales by 0.5% in 2024 compared to 2023. For the definition of “core sales” refer to “—Results of Operations” below.

35

Table of Contents

Geographically, the Company’s sales in developed markets in 2024 increased 2% compared to 2023 driven primarily by increased sales in North America. For the same period, core sales in developed markets were essentially flat, primarily due to increased core sales in North America offset by decreased core sales in Western Europe. Increased demand in the Diagnostics segment, offset by decreased demand in the Biotechnology and Life Sciences segments, contributed to the year-over-year flat core sales growth in developed markets. For the same period, sales in high-growth markets decreased year-over-year by 4% and core sales in high-growth markets decreased at a mid-single digit rate, due primarily to low double-digit core revenue declines in China. The decline in core sales in high-growth markets was primarily driven by lower demand across all segments, due to weakness in capital spending and generally lower underlying activity levels. High-growth markets represented approximately 29% of the Company’s total sales in 2024.

The Company’s net earnings from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled approximately $3.9 billion, compared to approximately $4.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net earnings attributable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled approximately $3.9 billion or $5.29 per diluted common share compared to approximately $4.7 billion or $6.38 per diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2023. 2024 intangible asset impairments and increased operating expenses, net of increased other income, drove the year-over-year decline in net earnings from continuing operations and diluted net earnings per common share from continuing operations. In addition to the above factors, net earnings from discontinued operations for 2024 compared with 2023 contributed to the lower net earnings attributable to common stockholders in 2024. Refer to “—Results of Operations” for further discussion of the year-over-year changes in net earnings and diluted net earnings per common share for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. In response to current economic conditions, the Company expects to review and adjust its cost structure. In the first quarter of 2025, the Company commenced an initiative to identify productivity improvement and cost savings opportunities that we anticipate would generate annual pre-tax savings of at least $150 million. The Company expects these opportunities to be broad-based, including opportunities within China and the Diagnostics segment.

Acquisitions

During 2024, the Company acquired 3 businesses for total consideration of $558 million in cash, net of cash acquired. The businesses acquired complement existing units of the Company’s Life Sciences segment. The Company preliminarily recorded an aggregate of $305 million of goodwill related to these acquisitions.

Refer to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the Company’s acquisitions.

Veralto Corporation Separation

On September 30, 2023 (the “Distribution Date”), the Company completed the separation (the “Separation”) of its former Environmental & Applied Solutions business by distributing to Danaher stockholders on a pro rata basis all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Veralto Corporation (“Veralto”), the entity Danaher incorporated to hold such businesses. To effect the Separation, Danaher distributed to its stockholders one share of Veralto common stock for every three shares of Danaher common stock outstanding as of September 13, 2023, the record date for the distribution. Fractional shares of Veralto common stock that otherwise would have been distributed were aggregated and sold into the public market and the proceeds distributed to Danaher stockholders who otherwise would have received fractional shares of Veralto common stock.

The accounting requirements for reporting the Separation as a discontinued operation were met when the Separation was completed. Refer to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In this report, references to the non-GAAP measure of core sales (also referred to as core revenues or sales/revenues from existing businesses) refer to sales from continuing operations calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) but excluding:

•sales from acquired businesses (as defined below); and

•the impact of currency translation.

References to sales or operating profit attributable to acquisitions or acquired businesses refer to sales or operating profit, as applicable, from acquired businesses recorded prior to the first anniversary of the acquisition less any sales and operating profit, during the applicable period, attributable to divested product lines not considered discontinued operations. The portion of revenue attributable to currency translation is calculated as the difference between:

•the period-to-period change in revenue (as defined above); and

•the period-to-period change in revenue (as defined above) after applying current period foreign exchange rates to the prior year period.

36

Table of Contents

Core sales growth (decline) should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for or superior to, sales, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Management believes that reporting this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors by helping identify underlying growth trends in Danaher’s business and facilitating comparisons of Danaher’s revenue performance with its performance in prior and future periods and to Danaher’s peers. Management also uses this non-GAAP financial measure to measure the Company’s operating and financial performance and as one of the performance measures in the Company’s executive short-term cash incentive program. The Company excludes the effect of currency translation from this measure because currency translation is not under management’s control, is subject to volatility and can obscure underlying business trends, and excludes the effect of acquisitions and divestiture-related items because the nature, size, timing and number of acquisitions and divestitures can vary dramatically from period-to-period and between the Company and its peers and can also obscure underlying business trends and make comparisons of long-term performance difficult.

Throughout this discussion, references to sales growth or decline refer to the impact of both price and unit sales and references to productivity improvements generally refer to improved cost efficiencies resulting from the ongoing application of DBS.

The Company deems acquisition-related transaction costs incurred in a given period to be significant (generally relating to the Company’s larger acquisitions) if it determines that such costs exceed the range of acquisition-related transaction costs typical for Danaher in a given period.

Sales Growth (Decline) and Core Sales Decline

Total sales growth (decline) (GAAP) — % (10.5) %

Impact of:

Acquisitions (2.0) % (0.5) %

Currency exchange rates 0.5 % 1.0 %

Core sales decline (non-GAAP) (1.5) % (10.0) %

2024 Sales Compared to 2023

Total sales were flat on a year-over-year basis in 2024 as sales from acquired businesses, which increased reported sales by 2.0%, were largely offset by a 1.5% decrease in core sales resulting from the factors discussed below by segment. The impact of changes in currency exchange rates decreased reported sales by 0.5% on a year-over-year basis in 2024 primarily due to the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most other major currencies in 2024. Price increases contributed 1.0% to sales growth on a year-over-year basis and are reflected as a component of core sales decline above.

Operating Profit Performance

Operating profit margins decreased 140 basis points from 21.8% for the year ended December 31, 2023 to 20.4% for the year ended December 31, 2024. The following factors impacted year-over-year operating profit margin comparisons.

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were unfavorably impacted by:

•The incremental dilutive effect in 2024 of acquired businesses - 85 basis points

•2024 impairment charges related to a trade name in each of the Life Sciences and Diagnostics segments, net of 2023 impairment charges related to technology-based intangible assets in the Diagnostics segment and technology-based intangible assets and other assets in the Biotechnology segment. Refer to Note 10 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the impairments - 75 basis points

•Full year 2024 loss on the termination of a commercial arrangement in the Diagnostics segment - 25 basis points

•2023 gain from the resolution of a litigation contingency in the Life Sciences segment - 5 basis points

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were favorably impacted by:

•Acquisition-related transaction costs deemed significant, settlement of pre-acquisition share-based payment awards and fair value adjustments to inventory in 2023, net of acquisition-related fair value adjustment to inventory in 2024, in each case related to the acquisition of Abcam plc (“Abcam”) - 30 basis points

•Increased leverage and productivity in the Company’s operational and administrative cost structure, net of lower 2024 core sales and the impact of product mix - 20 basis points

37

Table of Contents

Business Segments

Sales by business segment for the years ended December 31 are as follows ($ in millions):

For information regarding the Company’s sales by geographical region, refer to Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Biotechnology segment includes the bioprocessing and discovery and medical businesses and offers a broad range of equipment, consumables and services that are primarily used by customers to advance and accelerate the research, development, manufacture and delivery of biological medicines. The Company’s solutions support a broad range of biotherapeutics including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, replacement therapies such as insulin and vaccines, as well as novel cell, gene, mRNA and other nucleic acid therapies.

Biotechnology Selected Financial Data

Year Ended December 31

Operating profit as a % of sales 24.9 % 26.6 % 34.3 %

Depreciation as a % of sales 2.2 % 2.3 % 2.2 %

Amortization as a % of sales 12.8 % 12.0 % 9.3 %

Sales Decline and Core Sales Decline

Total sales decline (GAAP) (6.0) % (18.0) %

Impact of:

Currency exchange rates 1.5 % — %

Core sales decline (non-GAAP) (4.5) % (18.0) %

2024 Sales Compared to 2023

Price increases in the segment contributed 2.5% to sales growth on a year-over-year basis during 2024 as compared with 2023 and are reflected as a component of core sales above.

During 2024, total Biotechnology segment sales decreased 6.0% primarily as a result of decreased core sales in the bioprocessing business, and to a lesser extent the impact of currency exchange rates. Total segment core sales decreased across most major geographic regions, including weak demand in China as customers were cautious with their investments. Year-over-year core sales in the bioprocessing business decreased as core sales declines in the first half of the year more than offset core sales growth in the second half. The revenue decline in the first half of the year was primarily due to lower demand as customers reduced their inventory levels. The bioprocessing business returned to core growth in the second half of 2024 primarily driven by improved consumables demand, primarily in North America and Europe. Core sales in the discovery and medical business decreased year-over-year due primarily to lower demand for equipment, partially offset by an increase in demand for consumables.

38

Table of Contents

Operating Profit Performance

Operating profit margins declined 170 basis points during 2024 as compared to 2023. The following factors impacted year-over-year operating profit margin comparisons.

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were unfavorably impacted by:

•Lower 2024 core sales, reduced leverage in the segment’s operational and administrative cost structure and the impact of product mix, net of 2023 inventory write-offs - 245 basis points

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were favorably impacted by:

•2023 impairment charges related to technology-based intangible assets and other assets - 75 basis points

Amortization of intangible assets as a percentage of sales increased in 2024 as compared with 2023 due to the decrease in sales and relatively consistent amortization expense year-over-year.

LIFE SCIENCES

The Life Sciences segment offers a broad range of instruments, consumables, services and software that are primarily used by customers to study the basic building blocks of life, including DNA and RNA, nucleic acid, proteins, metabolites and cells, in order to understand the causes of disease, identify new therapies, and test and manufacture new drugs, vaccines and gene editing technologies. Additionally, the segment provides products and consumables used to filter and remove contaminants from a variety of liquids and gases in many end-market applications.

Life Sciences Selected Financial Data

Year Ended December 31

Operating profit as a % of sales 12.0 % 16.9 % 20.1 %

Depreciation as a % of sales 2.3 % 1.8 % 1.6 %

Amortization as a % of sales 7.9 % 6.0 % 6.0 %

Sales Growth and Core Sales (Decline) Growth

Total sales growth (GAAP) 2.5 % 1.5 %

Impact of:

Acquisitions (6.0) % (1.5) %

Currency exchange rates 1.5 % 1.0 %

Core sales (decline) growth (non-GAAP) (2.0) % 1.0 %

2024 Sales Compared to 2023

Price increases in the segment contributed 1.0% to sales growth on a year-over-year basis during 2024 as compared with 2023 and are reflected as a component of core sales above.

During 2024, total Life Sciences segment sales increased 2.5% primarily as a result of acquisitions, partially offset by decreased core sales and to a lesser extent the impact of currency exchange rates. The decrease in core sales was led by China and Western Europe. Core sales declined year-over-year in the mass spectrometry and flow cytometry and lab automation solutions businesses primarily as a result of weaker demand for equipment, partially offset by increased demand for consumables and service. Core sales declined year-over-year in the microscopy business across most major end-markets. Core sales in the filtration business increased year-over-year driven by increased core sales from aerospace customers, partially offset by decreased core sales from food and beverage customers. Core sales declined year-over-year in the genomics consumables business across most product lines, led by lower core sales in the gene reading and plasmids product lines.

39

Table of Contents

Operating Profit Performance

Operating profit margins declined 490 basis points during 2024 as compared to 2023. The following factors impacted year-over-year operating profit margin comparisons.

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were unfavorably impacted by:

•2024 impairment charge related to a trade name. Refer to Note 10 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the impairment - 305 basis points

•The incremental dilutive effect in 2024 of acquired businesses - 245 basis points

•Lower 2024 core sales and the impact of product mix, net of improvements in the segment’s operational and administrative cost structure - 25 basis points

•2023 gain from the resolution of a litigation contingency - 15 basis points

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were favorably impacted by:

•Acquisition-related transaction costs deemed significant, settlement of pre-acquisition share-based payment awards and fair value adjustments to inventory in 2023, net of acquisition-related fair value adjustment to inventory in 2024, in each case related to the acquisition of Abcam - 100 basis points

Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets increased as a percentage of sales during 2024 as compared with 2023, primarily as a result of acquisitions.

DIAGNOSTICS

The Diagnostics segment offers clinical instruments, consumables, software and services that hospitals, physicians’ offices, reference laboratories and other critical care settings use to diagnose disease and make treatment decisions.

Diagnostics Selected Financial Data

Year Ended December 31

Operating profit as a % of sales 26.8 % 25.1 % 31.7 %

Depreciation as a % of sales 4.0 % 4.0 % 3.6 %

Amortization as a % of sales 2.0 % 2.1 % 1.9 %

Sales Growth (Decline) and Core Sales Growth (Decline)

Total sales growth (decline) (GAAP) 2.0 % (11.5) %

Impact of:

Currency exchange rates 1.0 % 1.0 %

Core sales growth (decline) (non-GAAP) 3.0 % (10.5) %

2024 Sales Compared to 2023

Price increases in the segment did not have a significant impact on sales growth on a year-over-year basis during 2024 as compared with 2023.

During 2024, total segment sales increased 2.0% primarily as a result of increased core sales resulting from the factors discussed below. Changes in currency exchange rates negatively impacted sales year-over-year. Overall segment core sales growth was driven primarily by North America, partially offset by lower year-over-year demand in high-growth markets. During the year, core sales in the molecular diagnostics business grew on a year-over-year basis primarily driven by increased sales of both respiratory and non-respiratory disease tests in North America. In the segment’s clinical diagnostics businesses, core sales grew on a year-over-year basis led by the clinical lab business, and to a lesser extent by the pathology and acute care businesses. The increased core sales in the clinical diagnostics businesses were driven by core sales growth in developed markets.

40

Table of Contents

Operating Profit Performance

Operating profit margins increased 170 basis points during 2024 as compared to 2023. The following factors impacted year-over-year operating profit margin comparisons.

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were favorably impacted by:

•Higher 2024 core sales, improvements in the segment’s operational and administrative cost structure and the impact of product mix - 250 basis points

2024 vs. 2023 operating profit margin comparisons were unfavorably impacted by:

•2024 loss on the termination of a commercial arrangement - 60 basis points

•2024 impairment charge related to a trade name, net of a 2023 impairment charge related to a technology-based intangible asset - 20 basis points

COST OF SALES AND GROSS PROFIT

Year Ended December 31

The year-over-year decrease in cost of sales during 2024 as compared with 2023 was due primarily to the impact of lower year-over-year sales volumes and $87 million of charges incurred in the second quarter of 2023, primarily related to inventory in the Biotechnology segment. The decrease in cost of sales was partially offset by an acquisition-related charge of $25 million incurred in 2024 associated with the fair value adjustment to inventory recorded in connection with the acquisition of Abcam.

The year-over-year increase in gross profit margin during 2024 as compared with 2023 was favorably impacted by the 2023 inventory charges referenced above, the net positive impact from the gross profit margin of recent acquisitions, and incremental year-over-year cost savings associated with productivity improvement actions, net of the impact of product mix and an acquisition-related charge in 2024.

OPERATING EXPENSES

Year Ended December 31

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses (7,759) (7,329) (7,124)

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses (1,584) (1,503) (1,528)

R&D as a % of sales 6.6 % 6.3 % 5.7 %

SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales increased 180 basis points on a year-over-year basis for 2024 compared with 2023. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by $265 million of intangible asset impairment charges recorded in 2024 and the impact of recent acquisitions, including the associated amortization expenses, and the 2024 loss on the termination of a commercial arrangement of $56 million. These increases were partially offset by acquisition-related costs for the acquisition of Abcam of $87 million and intangible asset impairment charges of $64 million in 2023. Refer to Note 10 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the impairments.

R&D expenses (consisting principally of internal and contract engineering personnel costs) as a percentage of sales increased in 2024 as compared with 2023, primarily due to increased spending on R&D activities, including the impact of recent acquisitions.

NONOPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE)

Nonoperating income (expense) consists primarily of net unrealized and realized gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the Company’s investments in equity securities and investments in partnerships, the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit costs, gains on the sale of product lines and impairments of equity method investments. Refer to Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

41

Table of Contents

INTEREST COSTS

Interest expense of $278 million for 2024 was $8 million lower than in 2023, due to lower balances on borrowings in 2024 compared to 2023, partially offset by higher average interest rates on the Company’s commercial paper borrowings. Interest income of $117 million for 2024 was $186 million lower than in 2023, due to lower average cash balances in 2024 primarily as a result of the use of cash for share repurchases and acquisitions.

For a further description of the Company’s debt and cross-currency swap derivative contracts related to the debt as of December 31, 2024 refer to Notes 13 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

INCOME TAXES

General

Income tax expense and deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect management’s assessment of future taxes expected to be paid on items reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company records the tax effect of discrete items and items that are reported net of their tax effects in the period in which they occur.

The Company’s effective tax rate can be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with different statutory tax rates (including as a result of business acquisitions and dispositions), changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, accruals related to contingent tax liabilities and period-to-period changes in such accruals, the results of audits and examinations of previously filed tax returns (as further discussed below), the expiration of statutes of limitations, the implementation of tax planning strategies, tax rulings, court decisions, settlements with tax authorities, changes in tax laws and regulations, and legislative policy changes that may result from the OECD’s initiative on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. For a description of the tax treatment of earnings that are planned to be reinvested indefinitely outside the United States, refer to “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Cash and Cash Requirements” below.

The amount of income taxes the Company pays is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state and non-U.S. tax authorities, which often result in proposed assessments. Management performs a comprehensive review of its global tax positions on a quarterly basis. Based on these reviews, which take into account the results of discussions and resolutions of matters with certain tax authorities and the other factors referenced in the prior paragraph, reserves for contingent tax liabilities are accrued or adjusted as necessary. For a discussion of risks related to these and other tax matters, refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.

Year-Over-Year Changes in the Tax Provision and Effective Tax Rate

Year Ended December 31

Effective tax rate from continuing operations 16.1 % 16.3 % 11.4 %

The Company operates globally, including in certain jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the U.S. federal statutory rate. Therefore, the impact of Danaher’s global operations and benefits from tax credits and incentives contributes to a lower effective tax rate compared to the U.S. federal statutory tax rate. For each period presented, the effective tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% principally due to the impact of the Company’s global operations, research tax credits, foreign-derived intangible income and aggregate net discrete benefits or charges.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, the effective tax rate included the tax effect from intangible asset impairments in a jurisdiction with a higher statutory tax rate than the Company’s effective tax rate and discrete tax benefits from excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statutes of limitation and changes in estimates related to prior year tax filing positions, net of charges related to changes in estimates associated with prior period uncertain tax positions. These items decreased the reported rate on a net basis by 1.4%.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the effective tax rate included discrete tax benefits from changes in estimates related to prior year tax filing positions, the release of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statutes of limitation and excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, net of charges related to tax costs related to the Separation, tax costs from legal and operational actions undertaken to realign certain of its businesses and changes in estimates associated with prior period uncertain tax positions. These items decreased the reported rate on a net basis by 0.9%.

The Company conducts business globally and files numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the U.S. federal and state and non-U.S. jurisdictions. The non-U.S. countries in which the Company has a significant presence include China, Denmark, Germany, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Excluding these jurisdictions, the Company believes that a change in the statutory tax rate of any individual non-U.S. country would not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements given the geographic dispersion of the Company’s taxable income.

42

Table of Contents

The Company and its subsidiaries are routinely examined by various U.S. and non-U.S. taxing authorities. The IRS has completed substantially all of the examinations of the Company’s federal income tax returns through 2015 and is currently examining certain of the Company’s federal income tax returns for 2016 through 2022. In addition, the Company has subsidiaries in Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and various other countries, states and provinces that are currently under audit for years ranging from 2004 through 2023.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the IRS proposed significant adjustments to the Company’s taxable income for the years 2016 through 2018 with respect to the deferral of tax on certain premium income related to the Company’s self-insurance programs. For income tax purposes, the recognition of premium income has been deferred in accordance with U.S. tax laws related to insurance. The proposed adjustments would have increased the Company’s taxable income over the 2016 through 2018 periods by approximately $2.5 billion. In the first quarter of 2023, the Company settled these proposed adjustments with the IRS, although the audit is still open with respect to other matters for the 2016 through 2018 period. The impact of the settlement with respect to the Company’s self-insurance policies was not material to the Company’s financial statements, including cash flows and the effective tax rate. As the settlement with the IRS was specific to the audit period, the settlement does not preclude the IRS from proposing similar adjustments to the Company’s self-insurance programs with respect to periods after 2018. Management believes the positions the Company has taken in its U.S. tax returns are in accordance with the relevant tax laws.

Tax authorities in Denmark have issued tax assessments related to interest accrued by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries for the years 2004 through 2015, totaling approximately DKK 2.1 billion including applicable accrued interest (approximately $288 million based on the exchange rate as of December 31, 2024). Management believes the positions the Company has taken in Denmark are in accordance with the relevant tax laws and is actively defending them under appeal to the Danish National Tax Tribunal. The Company intends on pursuing this matter to the Danish High Court and Danish Supreme Court should the current appeal be unsuccessful. While the ultimate resolution is uncertain and may take years to resolve, taking into account the provisions and payments the Company has previously made related to these assessments to mitigate further interest accrual claims, the Company does not expect the resolution of this matter to have a future material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements, including its cash flow and effective tax rate.

The Company expects its 2025 effective tax rate to be approximately 17.5% which is higher than the 2024 rate due primarily to the impact of net discrete tax benefits on the 2024 effective tax rate.

The OECD introduced Global Anti-Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Pillar 2 rules with new taxing mechanisms under which multi-national entities would pay a minimum level of tax. Numerous countries, including European Union member states, have enacted or are expected to enact related legislation, with general implementation of a global minimum tax as of January 1, 2025. The Company continues to monitor the impact of these new rules but does not anticipate that they will have a material impact on the Company’s effective tax rate.

Any future legislative changes in the United States and/or potential tax reform in other jurisdictions could cause the Company’s effective tax rate to differ from this estimate. Refer to Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to income taxes.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

As further discussed in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, discontinued operations includes the results of the Veralto business which was disposed on the first day of the fourth quarter of 2023.

In 2023, earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, were $543 million and reflected the operating results of the Veralto businesses prior to the Separation, net of certain costs associated with the Separation including costs related to establishing Veralto as a stand-alone entity and related legal, accounting and investment banking fees. In 2022, earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, were $881 million and reflect the operations of Veralto.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income decreased by approximately $2.5 billion in 2024 as compared to 2023, primarily driven by the impact of losses from foreign currency translation adjustments in 2024 compared to gains in 2023 and lower net earnings in 2024 compared to 2023, partially offset by an increase in income from pension and postretirement plan benefit adjustments in 2024 compared to 2023. The Company recorded a foreign currency translation loss of approximately $1.5 billion for 2024 compared to a gain of $215 million for 2023. The foreign currency translation losses recorded in 2024 were primarily driven by the change in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Swedish krona. Foreign currency translation adjustments reflect the gain or loss resulting from the impact of the change in currency exchange rates on the Company’s foreign operations as they are translated to the Company’s reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. The Company recorded a pension and postretirement plan benefit gain of $101 million for 2024 compared to a loss of $51 million for 2023. The Company recorded losses from cash flow hedge adjustments related to the Company’s derivative contracts in 2024 of $113 million compared to $14 million in 2023.

43

Table of Contents

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, equity prices and commodity prices as well as credit risk, each of which could impact its Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company generally addresses its exposure to these risks through its normal operating and financing activities. The Company also periodically uses derivative financial instruments to manage currency exchange risks and interest rate risks. In addition, the Company’s broad-based business activities help to reduce the impact that volatility in any particular area or related areas may have on its financial statements as a whole.

Interest Rate Risk

The Company manages interest cost using a mixture of fixed-rate and at times variable-rate debt. A change in interest rates on fixed-rate debt impacts the fair value of the debt but not the Company’s earnings or cash flow because the interest on such debt is fixed. Generally, the fair market value of fixed-rate debt will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. As of December 31, 2024, an increase of 100 basis points in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate long-term debt by approximately $1.2 billion.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no variable-rate debt obligations, however, the interest rates of the Company’s euro-based commercial paper borrowings are fixed based on short-term market rates at the time of issuance (refer to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Company’s outstanding commercial paper balances as of December 31, 2024). As these shorter duration obligations mature, the Company expects to issue additional short-term commercial paper obligations to refinance all or part of these borrowings, to the extent commercial paper markets are available. As a result, the Company’s primary interest rate exposure results from changes in short-term interest rates. In 2024, the average annual interest rate associated with the Company’s outstanding commercial paper borrowings was approximately 4.0%. A hypothetical increase of this average by 100 basis points would have increased the Company’s 2024 interest expense by approximately $11 million.

Refer to Note 14 for discussion of the Company’s cross-currency swap derivative contracts and interest rate swap agreements.

Currency Exchange Rate Risk

The Company faces transactional exchange rate risk from transactions with customers in countries outside the United States and from intercompany transactions between affiliates. Transactional exchange rate risk arises from the purchase and sale of goods and services in currencies other than Danaher’s functional currency or the functional currency of its applicable subsidiary. The Company also faces translational exchange rate risk related to the translation of financial statements of its foreign operations into U.S. dollars, Danaher’s functional currency. Costs incurred and sales recorded by subsidiaries operating outside of the United States are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates effective during the respective period. As a result, the Company is exposed to movements in the exchange rates of various currencies against the U.S. dollar. In particular, the Company has more sales in European currencies than it has expenses in those currencies. Therefore, when European currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar, operating profits are increased or decreased, respectively. The effect of a change in currency exchange rates on the Company’s net investment in non-U.S. subsidiaries is reflected in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) component of stockholders’ equity.

Currency exchange rates negatively impacted 2024 reported sales on a year-over-year basis primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies during 2024. Strengthening of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies in 2025 compared to the exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2024 would adversely impact the Company’s sales and results of operations on an overall basis. Any weakening of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies in 2025 compared to the exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2024 would positively impact the Company’s sales and results of operations.

The Company has generally accepted the exposure to exchange rate movements without using derivative financial instruments to manage this transactional exchange risk, although the Company has used foreign currency-denominated debt and cross-currency swaps to hedge a portion of its net investments in non-U.S. operations against adverse movements in exchange rates. Both positive and negative movements in currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar will continue to affect the reported amount of sales and net earnings in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, the Company has assets and liabilities held in foreign currencies. A 10% depreciation in major currencies relative to the U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2024 would have reduced foreign currency-denominated net assets and stockholders’ equity by approximately $1.6 billion. Refer to Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Company’s hedging of a portion of its net investment in non-U.S. operations.

44

Table of Contents

Equity Price Risk

The Company’s investment portfolio from time to time includes publicly-traded equity securities that are sensitive to fluctuations in market price. As of December 31, 2024, the Company held $3 million of publicly-traded equity securities, excluding equity-method investments. Additionally, the Company holds non-marketable equity investments in privately held companies that may be impacted by equity price risks. These non-marketable equity investments are accounted for under the Fair Value Alternative method with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. Volatility in the equity markets or other fair value considerations could affect the value of these investments and require losses or gains to be recognized in earnings. Refer to Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Company’s equity investments.

Commodity Price Risk

For a discussion of risks relating to commodity prices, refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to potential credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to its financial instruments. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and temporary investments, receivables from customers and derivatives. The Company places cash and temporary investments with various high-quality financial institutions throughout the world and exposure is limited at any one institution. Although the Company typically does not obtain collateral or other security to secure these obligations, it does regularly monitor the third-party depository institutions that hold its cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s emphasis is primarily on safety and liquidity of principal and secondarily on maximizing yield on those funds.

In addition, concentrations of credit risk arising from receivables from customers are limited due to the diversity of the Company’s customers. The Company’s businesses perform credit evaluations of their customers’ financial conditions as deemed appropriate and also obtain collateral or other security when deemed appropriate.

The Company enters into derivative transactions infrequently and typically with high-quality financial institutions, so that exposure at any one institution is limited.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Management assesses the Company’s liquidity in terms of its ability to generate cash to fund its operating, investing and financing activities. The Company continues to generate substantial cash from operating activities and believes that its operating cash flow, cash on hand and other sources of liquidity will be sufficient to allow it to continue investing in existing businesses (including capital expenditures), consummating strategic acquisitions and investments, paying interest and servicing debt, paying dividends and funding restructuring activities, as well as to repurchase common stock when deemed appropriate and manage its capital structure on a short-term and long-term basis.

The Company has relied primarily on borrowings under its commercial paper program to address liquidity requirements that exceed the capacity provided by its operating cash flows and cash on hand, while also accessing the capital markets from time to time including to secure financing for more significant acquisitions. Subject to any limitations that may result from market disruptions, the Company anticipates following the same approach in the future.

45

Table of Contents

Overview of Cash Flows and Liquidity

Following is an overview of the Company’s cash flows and liquidity for the years ended December 31:

Cash paid for acquisitions $ (558) $ (5,610) $ (582)

Payments for additions to property, plant and equipment (1,392) (1,383) (1,118)

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment 13 12 9

Payments for purchases of investments (331) (172) (523)

Proceeds from sales of investments 253 61 18

All other investing activities 34 44 51

Total investing cash used in discontinued operations — (33) (89)

Net cash used in investing activities $ (1,981) $ (7,081) $ (2,234)

Repayments of borrowings (maturities longer than 90 days) (1,674) (620) (965)

Distribution from discontinued operations — 2,600 —

Payments for repurchase of common stock (5,979) — —

All other financing activities (131) (67) (95)

Cash distributions to Veralto Corporation, net — (427) —

Net cash used in financing activities $ (8,385) $ (273) $ (2,570)

As of December 31, 2024, the Company held approximately $2.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents.

Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities can fluctuate significantly from period-to-period as working capital needs and the timing of payments for income taxes, restructuring activities and productivity improvement initiatives, pension funding and other items impact reported cash flows.

Operating cash flows from continuing operations were approximately $6.7 billion for 2024, an increase of $198 million, or 3%, as compared to 2023. The year-over-year change in operating cash flows from 2023 to 2024 was primarily attributable to the following factors:

•2024 operating cash flows from continuing operations reflected a decrease of $322 million in net earnings from continuing operations in 2024 as compared to 2023.

•Net earnings from continuing operations for 2024 also included $248 million higher noncash charges for impairments, intangible asset amortization, depreciation and amortization of an acquisition-related inventory step-up compared to 2023, net of a decrease in unrealized investment gains/losses and stock compensation expense in 2024 as compared to 2023. Amortization expense primarily relates to the amortization of intangible assets and inventory fair value adjustments. Depreciation expense relates to both the Company’s manufacturing and operating facilities as well as instrumentation leased to customers under operating-type lease (“OTL”) arrangements. Depreciation, amortization, impairments and stock compensation are noncash expenses that decrease earnings without a corresponding impact to operating cash flows. Unrealized investment gains/losses impact net earnings from continuing operations without immediately impacting cash flows as the cash flow impact from investments occurs when the invested capital is returned to the Company.

46

Table of Contents

•The aggregate of trade accounts receivable, inventories and trade accounts payable provided $497 million in operating cash flows from continuing operations during 2024, compared to $358 million of operating cash flows generated in 2023. The amount of cash flow generated from or used by the aggregate of trade accounts receivable, inventories and trade accounts payable depends upon how effectively the Company manages the cash conversion cycle, which effectively represents the number of days that elapse from the day it pays for the purchase of raw materials and components to the collection of cash from its customers and can be significantly impacted by the timing of collections and payments in a period.

•The aggregate of prepaid expenses and other assets, deferred income taxes and accrued expenses and other liabilities used $695 million in operating cash flows during 2024, compared to $828 million used in 2023. The timing of cash payments and refunds for taxes and the impact of deferred tax benefits and charges, various employee-related liabilities, customer funding and accrued expenses drove the majority of this change.

Investing Activities

Cash flows relating to investing activities consist primarily of cash used for capital expenditures, including instruments leased to customers, acquisitions, investments and cash proceeds from divestitures of businesses or assets.

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $2.0 billion during 2024 compared to approximately $7.1 billion of net cash used in 2023.

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Sale of Investments

For a discussion of the Company’s acquisitions and divestitures refer to “—Overview” and Notes 2 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, in 2024 and 2023, the Company invested $331 million and $172 million, respectively, in non-marketable equity securities and partnerships.

Capital Expenditures

Though the relative significance of particular categories of capital investment can change from period to period, capital expenditures are typically made for increasing manufacturing capacity, the manufacture of instruments that are used in OTL arrangements, purchases of buildings, replacing equipment, supporting new product development and improving information technology systems. Capital expenditures totaled approximately $1.4 billion in both 2024 and 2023.

During 2021, certain agencies of the U.S. government, including the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“BARDA”) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, agreed to finance an expansion of production capacity related to chromatography, liquid cell culture media, buffers and cell culture powder media and single-use consumables at certain of the Company’s Biotechnology businesses and the development of diagnostics testing technologies and the expansion of testing production capacity at certain of the Company’s Diagnostics businesses. The Company’s businesses may enter into similar agreements in the future. In consideration of this financing, the U.S. government has certain rights, including rights with respect to the allocation of certain of the incremental production capacity associated with such expansion and/or rights in intellectual property produced with its financial assistance. The amount awarded pursuant to these grants in 2021 totaled $568 million and is being paid over periods ranging from one year to four years. In 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded amounts related to these grants and other government assistance that offset operating expenses of $43 million and $51 million, respectively, and purchases of property, plant and equipment of $198 million and $136 million, respectively. Property, plant and equipment purchased using funds provided by governments are recorded net of government assistance.

Financing Activities

Cash flows from financing activities consist primarily of cash flows associated with the issuance and repayments of commercial paper, issuance and repayment of long-term debt, borrowings under committed credit facilities, issuance and repurchases of common stock, issuance of preferred stock, payments of cash dividends to shareholders and proceeds from the Separation. Financing activities used cash of approximately $8.4 billion during 2024 compared to $273 million of cash used during 2023. The year-over-year increase in cash used by financing activities was due primarily to the repurchase of approximately $6.0 billion of the Company’s common stock in 2024, compared to the approximately $2.6 billion Veralto Distribution received in 2023 in connection with the Separation. In 2025, the Company anticipates paying approximately $60 million of excise tax related to the 2024 share repurchases.

Total debt was approximately $16.0 billion and $18.4 billion as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, including notes payable and current portion of long-term debt of $505 million and approximately $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had the ability to incur approximately $4.0 billion of additional indebtedness in direct borrowings or under the outstanding commercial paper facilities based on the amounts available under the Company’s $5.0 billion unsecured, multiyear revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) which were not being used to backstop outstanding commercial paper balances. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has classified

47

Table of Contents

approximately $1.0 billion of its borrowings outstanding under the euro-denominated commercial paper program as long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the Company has the intent and ability, as supported by availability under the Credit Facility, to refinance these borrowings for at least one year from the balance sheet date. As commercial paper obligations mature, the Company expects to issue additional short-term commercial paper obligations to refinance all or part of these borrowings, to the extent commercial paper markets are available.

Under the Company’s U.S. dollar and euro-denominated commercial paper program, the notes are typically issued at a discount from par, generally based on the ratings assigned to the Company by credit rating agencies at the time of the issuance and prevailing market rates measured by reference to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate or Euro Interbank Offer Rate, depending on the applicable currency of the borrowing.

Refer to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Company’s financing activities and indebtedness, including the Company’s outstanding debt as of December 31, 2024, and the Company’s commercial paper program and Credit Facility.

Shelf Registration Statement

The Company has filed a “well-known seasoned issuer” shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC that registers an indeterminate amount of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts and units for future issuance. The Company expects to use net proceeds realized by the Company from future securities sales off this shelf registration statement for general corporate purposes, including without limitation repayment or refinancing of debt or other corporate obligations, acquisitions, capital expenditures, share repurchases, dividends and/or working capital.

Stock Repurchase Program

Please see Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s stock repurchase program and repurchases of common stock.

Dividends

The Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share of Company common stock that was paid on January 31, 2025 to holders of record on December 27, 2024. Aggregate 2024 and 2023 cash payments for dividends on Company common stock were $768 million and $778 million, respectively, and 2023 cash payments for the dividends on the Company’s MCPS were $43 million. The year-over-year decrease in dividend payments in 2024 primarily related to lower dividends paid on the MCPS Series B as a result of their conversion into common shares in April 2023 and lower average common stock outstanding, partially offset by an increase in the quarterly dividend rate on common stock beginning with the dividend paid in the second quarter of 2024.

Cash and Cash Requirements

As of December 31, 2024, the Company held approximately $2.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents that were on deposit with financial institutions or invested in highly liquid investment-grade debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less with an approximate weighted average annual interest rate of 2.2%. Of the cash and cash equivalents, $631 million was held within the U.S. and approximately $1.5 billion was held outside of the U.S. The Company will continue to have cash requirements to support general corporate purposes, which may include working capital needs, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments, paying interest and servicing debt, paying taxes and any related interest or penalties, funding its restructuring activities and pension plans as required, paying dividends to shareholders, repurchasing shares of the Company’s common stock and supporting other business needs.

The Company generally intends to use available cash and internally generated funds to meet these cash requirements, but in the event that additional liquidity is required, the Company may also borrow under its commercial paper programs (if available) or borrow under the Company’s Credit Facility, enter into new credit facilities and either borrow directly thereunder or use such credit facilities to backstop additional borrowing capacity under its commercial paper programs (if available) and/or access the capital markets. The Company also may from time to time seek to access the capital markets to take advantage of favorable interest rate environments or other market conditions.

While repatriation of some cash held outside the U.S. may be restricted by local laws, most of the Company’s foreign cash could be repatriated to the U.S. Following enactment of the TCJA, in general, repatriation of cash to the U.S. can be completed with no incremental U.S. tax; however, repatriation of cash could subject the Company to non-U.S. taxes on distributions. The cash that the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries hold for indefinite reinvestment is generally used to finance non-U.S. operations and investments, including acquisitions. The income taxes, if any, that would be applicable to the repatriation of such earnings (including basis differences in our non-U.S. subsidiaries) are not readily determinable. As of December 31, 2024, management believes that it has sufficient sources of liquidity to satisfy its cash needs, including its cash needs in the U.S.

48

Table of Contents

During 2024, the Company contributed $8 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans and $37 million to its non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans. During 2025, the Company’s cash contribution requirements for its U.S. and its non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans are forecasted to be approximately $8 million and $35 million, respectively. The ultimate amounts to be contributed depend upon, among other things, legal requirements, underlying asset returns, the plan’s funded status, the anticipated tax deductibility of the contribution, local practices, market conditions, interest rates and other factors.

Contractual and Other Obligations

For a description of the Company’s debt and lease obligations, commitments, and litigation and contingencies, refer to Notes 9, 13, 16 and 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Legal Proceedings

Refer to Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding legal proceedings and contingencies, and for a discussion of risks related to legal proceedings and contingencies, refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company bases these estimates and judgments on historical experience, the current economic environment and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates and judgments.

The Company believes the following accounting estimates are most critical to an understanding of its financial statements. Estimates are considered to be critical if they meet both of the following criteria: (1) the estimate requires assumptions about material matters that are uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and (2) material changes in the estimate are reasonably likely from period-to-period. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting estimates, refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquired Intangibles—The Company’s business acquisitions typically result in the recognition of goodwill, developed technology and other intangible assets, which affect the amount of future period amortization expense and possible impairment charges that the Company may incur. The fair values of acquired intangibles are determined using information available near the acquisition date based on estimates and assumptions that are deemed reasonable by the Company. Significant assumptions include the discount rates and certain assumptions that form the basis of the forecasted results of the acquired business including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), revenue, revenue growth rates, royalty rates and technology obsolescence rates. These assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions. The Company engages third-party valuation specialists who review the Company’s critical assumptions and calculations of the fair value of acquired intangible assets in connection with significant acquisitions. In connection with the acquisitions that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized aggregate goodwill of $305 million and intangible assets of $419 million. Refer to Notes 1, 2 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s policies relating to goodwill, acquired intangibles and acquisitions.

In performing its goodwill impairment testing, the Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units primarily using a market-based approach which relies on current trading multiples of forecasted EBITDA for companies operating in businesses similar to each of the Company’s reporting units to calculate an estimated fair value of each reporting unit. In evaluating the estimates derived by the market-based approach, management makes judgments about the relevance and reliability of the multiples by considering factors unique to its reporting units, including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, and transactions and marketplace data as well as judgments about the comparability of the market proxies selected. There are inherent uncertainties related to these assumptions and management’s judgment in applying them to the analysis of goodwill impairment.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had five reporting units for goodwill impairment testing. Reporting units resulting from recent acquisitions generally present the highest risk of impairment. Management believes the impairment risk associated with these reporting units generally decreases as these businesses are integrated into the Company and better positioned for potential future earnings growth. The Company’s annual goodwill impairment analysis in 2024 indicated that in all instances, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their carrying values and consequently did not result in an impairment charge. The excess of the estimated fair value over carrying value (expressed as a percentage of carrying value for the respective reporting unit) for each of the Company’s reporting units as of the annual testing date ranged from approximately 70% to approximately 450%. To evaluate the sensitivity of the

49

Table of Contents

fair value calculations used in the goodwill impairment test, the Company applied a hypothetical 10% decrease to the fair values of each reporting unit and compared those hypothetical values to the reporting unit carrying values. Based on this hypothetical 10% decrease, the excess of the estimated fair value over carrying value (expressed as a percentage of carrying value for the respective reporting unit) for each of the Company’s reporting units ranged from approximately 55% to approximately 395%.

The Company reviews identified intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Determining whether an impairment loss occurred for finite-lived intangibles requires a comparison of the carrying amount to the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. These analyses require management to make judgments and estimates about future revenues, expenses, market conditions and discount rates related to these assets. Indefinite-lived intangibles are subject to impairment testing at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that potential impairment exists. Determining whether an impairment loss occurred for indefinite-lived intangible assets involves calculating the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets and comparing the fair value to their carrying value. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, the difference is recorded as an impairment loss.

If actual results are not consistent with management’s estimates and assumptions, goodwill and other intangible assets may be overstated and a charge would need to be taken against net earnings which would adversely affect the Company’s financial statements.

The Company estimates the fair value of acquired trade names through the use of a relief from royalty method, which values an indefinite-lived intangible asset by estimating the royalties saved through the ownership of an asset. Under this method, an owner of an indefinite-lived intangible asset determines the arm’s length royalty that likely would have been charged if the owner had to license the asset from a third party. The royalty rate, which is based on the estimated rate applied against forecasted sales, is tax-effected and discounted at present value using a discount rate commensurate with the relative risk of achieving the cash flow attributable to the asset. Management judgment is necessary to determine key assumptions, including revenue growth rates, perpetual revenue growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates. As further described in Note 10 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company recorded noncash impairment charges of $265 million pretax ($201 million after-tax) for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to an indefinite-lived trade name within the genomics consumable business included in the Life Sciences segment and an indefinite-lived trade name in the Diagnostics segment, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Following these impacts, if the fair values of the trade names declined by 10%, the Company estimates it would record additional impairment charges of $59 million.

Contingent Liabilities—As discussed in “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company is, from time to time, subject to a variety of litigation and similar contingent liabilities incidental to its business (or the business operations of previously owned entities). The Company recognizes a liability for any legal contingency or contract settlement expense that is known or probable of occurrence and reasonably estimable. These assessments require judgments concerning matters such as litigation developments and outcomes, the anticipated outcome of negotiations, the number of future claims and the cost of both pending and future claims. In addition, because most contingencies are resolved over long periods of time, liabilities may change in the future due to various factors, including those discussed in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. If the reserves established by the Company with respect to these contingent liabilities are inadequate, the Company would be required to incur an expense equal to the amount of the loss incurred in excess of the reserves, which would adversely affect the Company’s financial statements.

Income Taxes—For a description of the Company’s income tax accounting policies, refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company establishes valuation allowances for its deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. This requires management to make judgments and estimates regarding: (1) the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, (2) expected future taxable income and (3) the impact of tax planning strategies. Future changes to tax rates would also impact the amounts of deferred tax assets and liabilities and could have an adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements.

The Company provides for unrecognized tax benefits when, based upon the technical merits, it is “more likely than not” that an uncertain tax position will not be sustained upon examination. Judgment is required in evaluating tax positions and determining income tax provisions. The Company re-evaluates the technical merits of its tax positions and may recognize an uncertain tax benefit in certain circumstances, including when: (1) a tax audit is completed; (2) applicable tax laws change, including a tax case ruling or legislative guidance; or (3) the applicable statute of limitations expires.

50

Table of Contents

In addition, certain of the Company’s tax returns are currently under review by tax authorities including in Denmark and the United States (refer to “—Results of Operations—Income Taxes” and Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Management believes the positions taken in these returns are in accordance with the relevant tax laws and does not expect the resolution of these matters to have a future material adverse impact to the Company’s financial statements, including its cash flows and effective tax rate. However, the outcome of these audits is uncertain.

An increase of 1.0% in the Company’s 2024 nominal tax rate would have resulted in an additional income tax provision for continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 of $46 million.

Valuation of Investments in Equity Securities—For a description of the Company’s investments in equity securities and partnerships refer to Notes 1, 8 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company invests in publicly-traded securities, non-marketable securities of early-stage companies and equity method investments, including partnerships that invest primarily in early-stage companies.

Investments in early-stage companies have significant risks, including uncertainty regarding the investee company’s ability to successfully develop new technologies and services, bring these new technologies and services to market and gain market acceptance, maintain adequate capitalization and access to cash or other forms of liquidity, and retain critical management personnel. Refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for a further discussion of the risks related to investing in early-stage companies.

The Company’s investments in publicly traded securities are measured at fair value based on quotes in active markets. For investments in non-marketable equity securities where the Company does not have influence over the investee, the Company has elected the measurement alternative and records these investments at cost and adjusts the carrying value for impairments and observable price changes with a same or similar security from the same issuer adjusted to reflect the specific rights and preferences of the securities, if applicable. Valuations of non-marketable equity securities are complex and require judgment due to the absence of market prices, lack of liquidity and the risks inherent in early-stage companies. The uncertainty in the process of valuing securities for which a ready market does not exist may cause our estimated values of these securities to differ significantly from the values that would have been derived had a ready market for the securities existed, and those differences could be material.

The Company accounts for its investments in the partnerships using the equity method. Accordingly, the investments are initially recorded at cost and adjusted each period for the Company’s share of the partnership’s income or loss and distributions received. The partnerships’ investments are recorded by the partnerships on an estimated fair value basis and pose the same risks and require the same valuation judgments discussed above. As a result, changes in the value of investments in the partnership will have a direct impact on the Company’s earnings. Impairment losses for the partnerships are recognized to reduce the investment’s carrying value to its fair value if there is a decline in fair value below carrying value that is considered to be other-than-temporary. To determine whether there is an other-than-temporary impairment, the Company uses qualitative and quantitative valuation methods.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses for these investments in equity securities and partnerships are recorded in other income (expense), net, in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. A 10% decrease in the carrying value of the Company’s investments in equity securities and partnerships as of December 31, 2024 would result in a loss of approximately $156 million.

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

For a discussion of the new accounting standards impacting the Company, refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information required by this item is included under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

51

Table of Contents

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Management on Danaher Corporation’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” (2013 framework). Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This report dated February 20, 2025 appears on page 53 of this Form 10-K.

52

Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Danaher Corporation

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Danaher Corporation and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Danaher Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) and our report dated February 20, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report of Management on Danaher Corporation’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Tysons, Virginia

February 20, 2025

53

Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Danaher Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Danaher Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 20, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

54

Table of Contents

Uncertain Tax Positions

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

Tysons, Virginia

February 20, 2025

55

Table of Contents

DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ in millions, except per share amount)

As of December 31

ASSETS

Current assets:

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,552 1,557

Property, plant and equipment, net 4,990 4,553

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt $ 505 $ 1,695

Accrued expenses and other liabilities 4,540 4,813

Stockholders’ equity:

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (3,218) (1,748)

Noncontrolling interests 7 4

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 77,542 $ 84,488

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

56

Table of Contents

DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

($ and shares in millions, except per share amounts)

Year Ended December 31

Operating costs:

Selling, general and administrative expenses (7,759) (7,329) (7,124)

Nonoperating income (expense):

Other income (expense), net (56) (175) (227)

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes 4,646 5,044 7,146

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes — 543 881

Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends — (21) (106)

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders $ 3,899 $ 4,743 $ 7,103

Net earnings per common share from continuing operations:

Net earnings per common share from discontinued operations:

Net earnings per common share:

Average common stock and common equivalent shares outstanding:

* Net earnings per common share amount does not add due to rounding.

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

57

Table of Contents

DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

($ in millions)

Year Ended December 31

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes:

Foreign currency translation adjustments (1,458) 215 (2,105)

Pension and postretirement plan benefit adjustments 101 (51) 209

Cash flow hedge adjustments (113) (14) 51

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes (1,470) 150 (1,845)

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

58

Table of Contents

DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

($ in millions)

Year Ended December 31

Preferred stock:

Balance, beginning of period $ — $ 1,668 $ 3,268

Balance, end of period $ — $ — $ 1,668

Common stock:

Balance, beginning and end of period $ 9 $ 9 $ 9

Additional paid-in capital:

Acquisition of noncontrolling interests 3 — (14)

Distribution of Veralto Corporation — (10) —

Treasury stock:

Repurchase of common stock, including excise tax (6,039) — —

Common stock-based award activity (105) (86) (99)

Retained earnings:

Common stock dividends declared (785) (773) (725)

Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock dividends declared — (21) (106)

Distribution of Veralto Corporation — (2,101) —

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

Distribution of Veralto Corporation — 974 —

Noncontrolling interests:

Balance, beginning of period $ 4 $ 8 $ 10

Distribution of Veralto Corporation — (4) —

Change in noncontrolling interests 3 — (2)

Balance, end of period $ 7 $ 4 $ 8

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

59

Table of Contents

DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($ in millions)

Year Ended December 31

Cash flows from operating activities:

Less: earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes — (543) (881)

Noncash items:

Amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up 25 8 —

Impairment charges 265 77 —

Change in deferred income taxes (483) (1,204) (582)

Change in trade accounts receivable, net 331 322 (389)

Change in trade accounts payable 19 (149) (18)

Change in prepaid expenses and other assets 274 419 (73)

Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities (486) (43) 97

Total operating cash provided by continuing operations 6,688 6,490 7,613

Total operating cash provided by discontinued operations — 674 906

Cash flows from investing activities:

Payments for additions to property, plant and equipment (1,392) (1,383) (1,118)

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment 13 12 9

Payments for purchases of investments (331) (172) (523)

Proceeds from sales of investments 253 61 18

All other investing activities 34 44 51

Total investing cash used in discontinued operations — (33) (89)

Net cash used in investing activities (1,981) (7,081) (2,234)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Repayments of borrowings (maturities longer than 90 days) (1,674) (620) (965)

Distribution from discontinued operations — 2,600 —

Payments for repurchase of common stock (5,979) — —

All other financing activities (131) (67) (95)

Cash distributions to Veralto Corporation, net — (427) —

Net cash used in financing activities (8,385) (273) (2,570)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents (108) 59 (306)

Ending balance of cash and equivalents $ 2,078 $ 5,864 $ 5,995

Supplemental disclosure:

Distribution of noncash net assets to Veralto Corporation $ — $ (1,674) $ —

See the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

60

Table of Contents

DANAHER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business—Danaher Corporation (“Danaher” or the “Company”) designs, manufactures and markets professional, medical, research and industrial products and services, which are typically characterized by strong brand names, innovative technology and major market positions. As of December 31, 2024, the Company operates in three business segments:

•The Biotechnology segment includes the bioprocessing and discovery and medical businesses and offers a broad range of equipment, consumables and services that are primarily used by customers to advance and accelerate the research, development, manufacture and delivery of biological medicines. The Company’s solutions support a broad range of biotherapeutics including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, replacement therapies such as insulin and vaccines, as well as novel cell, gene, mRNA and other nucleic acid therapies.

•The Life Sciences segment offers a broad range of instruments, consumables, services and software that are primarily used by customers to study the basic building blocks of life, including DNA and RNA, nucleic acid, proteins, metabolites and cells, in order to understand the causes of disease, identify new therapies, and test and manufacture new drugs, vaccines and gene editing technologies. Additionally, the segment provides products and consumables used to filter and remove contaminants from a variety of liquids and gases in many end-market applications.

•The Diagnostics segment offers clinical instruments, consumables, software and services that hospitals, physicians’ offices, reference laboratories and other critical care settings use to diagnose disease and make treatment decisions.

Refer to Notes 2 and 3 for a discussion of acquisitions and discontinued operations, including the disposal of the Company’s former Environmental & Applied Solutions segment.

Accounting Principles—The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The Consolidated Financial Statements also reflect the impact of noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests do not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of continuing operations; therefore earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests for continuing operations are not presented separately in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests have been reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses and were insignificant in all periods presented. Reclassifications of certain prior year amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company bases these estimates on historical experience, the current economic environment and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, uncertainties associated with these estimates exist and actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

Cash and Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowances for Doubtful Accounts—All trade accounts, contract and finance receivables are reported on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets adjusted for any write-offs and net of allowances for doubtful accounts. The allowances for doubtful accounts represent management’s best estimate of the expected future credit losses from the Company’s trade accounts, contract and finance receivable portfolios. Determination of the allowances requires management to exercise judgment about the timing, frequency and severity of credit losses that could materially affect the provision for credit losses and, therefore, net earnings. The Company regularly performs detailed reviews of its portfolios to determine if an impairment has occurred and evaluates the collectability of receivables based on a combination of various financial and qualitative factors that may affect customers’ ability to pay, including customers’ financial condition, collateral, debt-servicing ability, past payment experience and credit bureau information. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific reserve is recorded against amounts due to reduce the recognized receivable to the amount reasonably expected to be collected. Additions to the allowances for doubtful accounts are charged to current period earnings and amounts determined to be uncollectible are charged directly against the allowances. If any previously-written off amounts are subsequently recovered, the amounts will increase the allowances. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional reserves would be required. The Company does not believe that trade accounts receivable represents significant concentrations of credit risk because

61

Table of Contents

of the diversified portfolio of individual customers and geographical areas. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2024 reflects the Company’s best estimate of the expected future losses for its accounts receivables; however, these estimates may change and future actual losses may differ from the Company’s estimates. The Company will continue to monitor economic conditions and will revise the estimates of the expected future losses for accounts receivable as necessary. The Company recorded $37 million, $43 million and $20 million of expense associated with doubtful accounts related to continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Included in the Company’s trade accounts receivable and other long-term assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are $141 million and $133 million of net aggregate financing receivables, respectively. All financing receivables are evaluated for impairment based on individual customer credit profiles.

Inventories—Inventories include the costs of material, labor and overhead. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value primarily using the first-in, first-out method.

The classes of inventory as of December 31 are summarized as follows ($ in millions):

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets—Prepaid expenses and other current assets primarily result from advance payments to vendors for goods and services and are capitalized until the related goods are received or services are performed and advance payments to tax authorities. The Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are primarily comprised of prepaid expenses of $620 million and $771 million, respectively, and taxes receivable for income and other taxes of $853 million and $715 million, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment—Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. The provision for depreciation has been computed principally by the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the depreciable assets as follows:

Category Useful Life

Buildings 30 years

Machinery and equipment 3 – 10 years

Customer-leased equipment 5 – 7 years

Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed and, when appropriate, changes to estimates are made prospectively.

The classes of property, plant and equipment as of December 31 are summarized as follows ($ in millions):

Land and improvements $ 230 $ 210

Gross property, plant and equipment 9,091 8,379

Less: accumulated depreciation (4,101) (3,826)

Property, plant and equipment, net $ 4,990 $ 4,553

Investments—Investments over which the Company has a significant influence but not a controlling interest, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting which requires the Company to record its initial investment at cost and adjust the balance each period for the Company’s share of the investee’s income or loss and dividends paid. The Company also invests in start-up companies where the Company has neither control of nor significant influence over the investee. The Company measures these non-marketable equity securities at fair value and recognizes changes in fair value in net earnings. For securities without readily available fair values, the Company has elected the measurement alternative to record these investments at cost and to adjust for impairments and observable price changes with a same or

62

Table of Contents

similar security from the same issuer within net earnings (the “Fair Value Alternative”). Additionally, the Company is a limited partner in partnerships that invest in start-up companies. While the partnerships record these investments at fair value, the Company’s investment in the partnerships is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Company made minority investments in equity method investments and non-marketable equity securities totaling $331 million, $172 million and $523 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, including investments in partnerships of $174 million, $71 million and $283 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recorded net realized and unrealized gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of these investments, as well as impairments to equity-method investments in other income (expense), net, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Refer to Notes 8 and 11 for additional information about the Company’s investments.

Other Assets—Other assets principally include operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, noncurrent deferred tax assets and other investments.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, investments in equity securities, available-for-sale debt securities and cross-currency swaps, obligations under trade accounts payable and short and long-term debt. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying values for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximate fair value. Refer to Note 11 for the fair values of the Company’s investments in equity securities, available-for-sale debt securities and cross-currency swaps and other obligations.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill and other intangible assets result from the Company’s acquisition of existing businesses. In accordance with accounting standards related to business combinations, goodwill is not amortized; however, certain finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, primarily customer relationships and acquired technology, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. In-process research and development (“IPR&D”) is initially capitalized at fair value and when the IPR&D project is complete, the asset is considered a finite-lived intangible asset and amortized over its estimated useful life. If an IPR&D project is abandoned, an impairment loss equal to the value of the intangible asset is recorded in the period of abandonment. The Company reviews identified intangible assets and goodwill for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The Company also tests intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill for impairment at least annually. Refer to Notes 2 and 10 for additional information about the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets.

Revenue Recognition—The Company derives revenues primarily from the sale of life sciences research, biopharmaceutical drug production and medical diagnostic products and services. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised products or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those products or services (the transaction price). A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product or service to a customer and is the unit of account under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company recognizes revenue when the obligations under the terms of a contract are satisfied; generally, this occurs when the customer obtains control of the underlying product or service. For equipment and consumables sold by the Company, control transfers to the customer at a point in time. To indicate the transfer of control, the Company must have a present right to payment, legal title must have passed to the customer, the customer must have the significant risks and rewards of ownership, and where acceptance is not a formality, the customer must have accepted the product or service. Returns for products sold are estimated and recorded as a reduction of revenue at the time of sale. Customer allowances and rebates, consisting primarily of volume discounts and other short-term incentive programs, are recorded as a reduction of revenue at the time of sale because these allowances reflect a reduction in the transaction price. Product returns, customer allowances and rebates are estimated based on historical experience and known trends. For extended warranty and service, control transfers to the customer over the term of the arrangement and revenue is recognized based upon the period of time elapsed under the arrangement. Revenue for other long-term contracts is generally recognized based upon the cost-to-cost measure of progress, provided that the Company meets the criteria associated with transferring control of the good or service over time.

Certain of the Company’s revenues relate to operating-type lease (“OTL”) arrangements. Leases are outside the scope of ASC 606 and are therefore accounted for in accordance with ASC 842, Leases. Equipment lease revenue for OTL agreements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease, and the cost of customer-leased equipment is recorded within property, plant and equipment in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and depreciated over the equipment’s estimated useful life. Depreciation expense associated with the leased equipment under OTL arrangements is reflected in cost of sales in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The OTLs are generally not cancellable until after an initial term and may or may not require the customer to purchase a minimum number of consumables or tests throughout the contract term. The Company also enters into sales-type lease (“STL”) arrangements with customers which result in earlier recognition of equipment lease revenue as compared to an OTL.

63

Table of Contents

For a contract with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis using the Company’s best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct product or service in the contract. The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the price observed in standalone sales to customers. Allocation of the transaction price is determined at the contracts’ inception.

Shipping and Handling—Shipping and handling costs are included as a component of cost of sales. Revenue derived from shipping and handling costs billed to customers is included in sales.

Advertising—Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Research and Development—The Company conducts research and development activities for the purpose of developing new products, enhancing the functionality, effectiveness, ease of use and reliability of the Company’s existing products and expanding the applications for which uses of the Company’s products are appropriate. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Contract Termination—The Company has certain contractual relationships with distributors who sell the Company’s products. During the year ended December 31, 2024 the Company terminated three contracts with distributors and incurred $56 million of costs related to the termination of the arrangements, which are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Income Taxes—The Company’s income tax expense represents the tax liability for the current year, the tax benefit or expense for the net change in deferred tax liabilities and assets during the year, as well as reserves for unrecognized tax benefits and return to provision adjustments. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in the Company’s tax return in future years for which the tax benefit has already been reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The Company establishes valuation allowances for its deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent items that have already been taken as a deduction on the Company’s tax return but have not yet been recognized as an expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities due to a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company provides for unrecognized tax benefits when, based upon the technical merits, it is “more likely than not” that an uncertain tax position will not be sustained upon examination. Judgment is required in evaluating tax positions and determining income tax provisions. The Company re-evaluates the technical merits of its tax positions and may recognize an uncertain tax benefit in certain circumstances, including when: (1) a tax audit is completed; (2) applicable tax laws change, including a tax case ruling or legislative guidance; or (3) the applicable statute of limitations expires. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax positions in income tax expense. Refer to Note 7 for additional information.

Foreign Currency Translation—Exchange rate adjustments resulting from foreign currency transactions are recognized in net earnings, whereas effects resulting from the translation of financial statements are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity. Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries operating outside the United States with a functional currency other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars using year end exchange rates and income statement accounts are translated at weighted average rates. Net foreign currency transaction gains or losses were not material in any of the years presented. As discussed below, the Company uses its foreign currency-denominated debt and cross-currency swap arrangements whereby existing U.S. dollar-denominated borrowings are effectively converted to foreign currency borrowings to partially hedge its net investments in foreign operations against adverse movements in exchange rates.

Derivative Financial Instruments—The Company is neither a dealer nor a trader in derivative instruments. The Company has generally accepted the exposure to transactional exchange rate movements without using derivative instruments to manage this risk, although the Company from time to time partially hedges its net investments in foreign operations against adverse movements in exchange rates through foreign currency-denominated debt and cross-currency swaps. The Company periodically enters into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate a portion of its foreign currency exchange risk and forward starting swaps to mitigate interest rate risk related to the Company’s debt. The Company also uses cross-currency swap derivative contracts to hedge long-term debt issuances in a foreign currency other than the functional currency of the borrower. When utilized, the derivative instruments are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. To the extent the derivative instrument qualifies as an effective hedge, changes in fair value are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Changes in the value of the foreign currency denominated debt and cross-currency swaps designated as hedges of the Company’s net investment in foreign operations based on spot rates are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity and offset changes in the value of the Company’s foreign currency denominated operations. Refer to Note 14 for additional information.

64

Table of Contents

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) refers to certain gains and losses that under GAAP are included in comprehensive income (loss) but are excluded from net earnings as these amounts are initially recorded as an adjustment to stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency translation adjustments are generally not adjusted for income taxes as they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. Cash flow hedge adjustments reflect the gains or losses on the derivative contract designated as the hedging instrument. Pension and postretirement plan benefit adjustments relate to unrecognized prior service credits and actuarial gains and losses. Refer to Notes 14, 15 and 18 for additional information.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—The Company accounts for stock-based compensation by measuring the cost of employee services received in exchange for all equity awards granted, including stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance stock units (“PSUs”), based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized net of an estimated forfeiture rate on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, except that in the case of RSUs, compensation expense is recognized using an accelerated attribution method. Refer to Note 18 for additional information on the stock-based compensation plans in which certain employees of the Company participate.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans—The Company measures its pension and postretirement plans’ assets and its obligations that determine the respective plan’s funded status as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year, and recognizes an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status in its balance sheet. Changes in the funded status of the plans are recognized in the year in which the changes occur and reported in comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 15 for additional information on the Company’s pension and postretirement plans including a discussion of the actuarial assumptions, the Company’s policy for recognizing the associated gains and losses and the method used to estimate service and interest cost components.

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted—In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The ASU includes amendments to the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivative scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments which include beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features by removing certain separation models in Subtopic 470-20. Additionally, the ASU requires entities to use the “if-converted” method when calculating diluted earnings per common share for convertible instruments. On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted the ASU, and the ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832), which requires annual disclosures of transactions with a government that are accounted for by applying a grant or contribution accounting model by analogy. These required disclosures include information on the nature of transactions and related accounting policies used to account for transactions, detail on the line items on the balance sheet and income statement affected by these transactions including amounts applicable to each line, and significant terms and conditions of the transactions including commitments and contingencies. The Company prospectively adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2022 and applied the disclosure guidance to all transactions within the scope of the ASU that were reflected in the financial statements at the date of initial application and new transactions that are entered into subsequent to the date of initial application. The Company accounts for the government assistance transactions by analogy to the grant accounting model in International Accounting Standards 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance.

The Company receives various forms of government assistance, primarily through grants related to the development of new products and the expansion of production capacity. During 2021, certain agencies of the U.S. government, including the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“BARDA”) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, agreed to finance an expansion of production capacity related to chromatography, liquid cell culture media, buffers and cell culture powder media and single-use consumables at certain of the Company’s Biotechnology businesses and the development of diagnostics testing technologies and the expansion of testing production capacity at certain of the Company’s Diagnostics businesses. The Company’s businesses may enter into similar agreements in the future. In consideration of this financing, the U.S. government has certain rights, including rights with respect to the allocation of certain of the incremental production capacity associated with such expansion and/or rights in intellectual property produced with its financial assistance. The amount awarded pursuant to these grants in 2021 totaled $568 million and is being paid over periods ranging from one year to four years. In 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded amounts related to these grants and other government assistance that offset operating expenses of $43 million, $51 million and $49 million, respectively, and purchases of property, plant and equipment of $198 million, $136 million and $87 million, respectively. Property, plant and equipment purchased using funds provided by governments are recorded net of government assistance.

65

Table of Contents

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. The ASU clarifies the guidance in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, related to the measurement of the fair value of an equity security subject to contractual sale restrictions and introduces disclosure requirements related to such equity securities. The Company early adopted the ASU effective July 1, 2022 and the impact of the adoption was not significant.

In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement. The ASU requires that a joint venture apply a new basis of accounting upon formation in which the joint venture will recognize and initially measure its assets and liabilities at fair value (with exceptions to fair value measurement that are consistent with the business combinations guidance). The ASU is effective prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted the ASU effective September 30, 2023 on a prospective basis.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The ASU requires additional disclosures about reportable segments’ significant expenses on an interim and annual basis. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2024, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 on a retrospective basis. Refer to Note 6 for additional segment disclosures.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted—In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The ASU expands disclosures in the income tax rate reconciliations table and cash taxes paid and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. This accounting standard will increase disclosures in the Company’s annual reporting but will have no impact on reported income tax expense or related tax assets or liabilities.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. The ASU requires disclosure of disaggregated information about certain income statement expenses, including specific expense categories. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. This accounting standard will increase disclosures in the Company’s annual and interim reporting but will have no impact on reported income statement expense captions.

NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS

The Company continually evaluates potential acquisitions that either strategically fit with the Company’s existing portfolio or expand the Company’s portfolio into a new and attractive business area. The Company has completed a number of acquisitions that have been accounted for as purchases and have resulted in the recognition of goodwill in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. This goodwill arises because the purchase prices for these businesses exceeds the fair value of acquired identifiable net assets due to the purchase prices reflecting a number of factors including the future earnings and cash flow potential of these businesses, the multiple to earnings, cash flow and other factors at which similar businesses have been purchased by other acquirers, the competitive nature of the processes by which the Company acquired the businesses, the avoidance of the time and costs which would be required (and the associated risks that would be encountered) to enhance the Company’s existing product offerings to key target markets and enter into new and profitable businesses and the complementary strategic fit and resulting synergies these businesses bring to existing operations.

The Company makes an initial allocation of the purchase price at the date of acquisition based upon its understanding of the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities. The Company obtains the information used for the purchase price allocation during due diligence and through other sources. In the months after closing, as the Company obtains additional information about the acquired assets and liabilities, including through tangible and intangible asset appraisals, and learns more about the newly acquired business, it is able to refine the estimates of fair value and more accurately allocate the purchase price. The fair values of acquired intangibles are determined based on estimates and assumptions that are deemed reasonable by the Company. Significant assumptions include the discount rates and certain assumptions that form the basis of the forecasted results of the acquired business including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), revenue, revenue growth rates, royalty rates and technology obsolescence rates. These assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions. The Company engages third-party valuation specialists who review the Company’s critical assumptions and calculations of the fair value of acquired intangible assets in connection with significant acquisitions. Only facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date are considered for subsequent adjustment. The Company is continuing to evaluate certain pre-acquisition contingencies associated with its 2024 acquisitions and is also in the process of obtaining valuations of certain acquisition-related assets and liabilities in connection with these acquisitions. The Company will make appropriate adjustments to the purchase price allocations, if any, prior to completion of the measurement periods, as required.

The following briefly describes the Company’s acquisition activity for the three years ended December 31, 2024.

66

Table of Contents

During 2024, the Company acquired three businesses for total consideration of $558 million in cash, net of cash acquired. The businesses acquired complement existing units of the Company’s Life Sciences segment. The Company preliminarily recorded an aggregate of $305 million of goodwill related to these acquisitions.

On December 6, 2023, the Company acquired Abcam plc (“Abcam”) for a cash purchase price of approximately $5.6 billion (the “Abcam Acquisition”). Abcam is a leading global supplier of protein consumables, including highly validated antibodies, reagents, biomarkers and assays to address targets in biological pathways that are critical for advancing drug discovery, life sciences research and diagnostics. Abcam is now part of the Company’s Life Sciences segment. Abcam generated revenues of approximately £362 million in 2022. The acquisition of Abcam has provided and is expected to provide the Company additional sales and earnings opportunities in the proteomics sector. The Company financed the Abcam Acquisition using cash on hand. The Company recorded approximately $3.9 billion of goodwill related to the Abcam Acquisition.

During 2022, the Company acquired seven businesses for total consideration of $582 million in cash, net of cash acquired. The businesses acquired complement existing units of each of the Company’s three segments. The Company recorded an aggregate of $389 million of goodwill related to these acquisitions.

The following summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition ($ in millions):

Trade accounts receivable $ 15 $ 86 $ 4

Property, plant and equipment 13 158 9

Trade accounts payable (2) (32) (1)

Deferred tax liabilities (59) (519) (10)

Other assets and liabilities, net 16 (49) (16)

Less: noncash consideration (150) (125) —

The noncash consideration of $150 million and $125 million related to a 2024 and a 2023 acquisition, respectively, and were the result of the Company’s preexisting investments in acquired businesses.

Transaction-related costs for the Abcam Acquisition were $27 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company’s earnings for 2024 and 2023 also reflect the pretax impact of $25 million and $68 million, respectively, of non-recurring acquisition date fair value adjustments to inventory in both periods and the settlement of pre-acquisition share-based payment awards in 2023, both related to the Abcam Acquisition. Transaction-related costs and acquisition-related fair value adjustments attributable to other acquisitions were not material for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022.

Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)

The unaudited pro forma information for the periods set forth below gives effect to the 2024 and 2023 acquisitions as if they had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period, including the results from operations for the acquired business as well as the impact of assumed financing of the transaction and the impact of the purchase price allocation (including the amortization of acquired intangible assets). The pro forma information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that actually would have been achieved had the acquisitions been consummated as of that time ($ in millions except per share amounts):

Net earnings from continuing operations 3,892 4,138

Diluted net earnings per common share from continuing operations(a) 5.28 5.54

(a) Diluted net earnings from continuing operations for 2023 is calculated by taking net earnings from continuing operations and excluding the anti-dilutive MCPS dividends.

67

Table of Contents

The 2024 unaudited pro forma net earnings from continuing operations set forth above were adjusted to exclude the pretax impact of a $25 million nonrecurring acquisition date fair value adjustment to inventory. The 2023 unaudited pro forma net earnings from continuing operations were adjusted to exclude the pretax impact of $68 million of nonrecurring acquisition date fair value adjustments to inventory and the settlement of pre-acquisition share-based payment awards related to the Abcam Acquisition. In addition, acquisition-related transaction costs of $27 million pretax for the year ended December 31, 2023 associated with the Abcam Acquisition were excluded from pro forma net earnings from continuing operations.

NOTE 3. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On September 30, 2023 (the “Distribution Date”), the Company completed the separation (the “Separation”) of its former Environmental & Applied Solutions business by distributing to Danaher stockholders on a pro rata basis all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Veralto Corporation (“Veralto”), the entity Danaher incorporated to hold such businesses. To effect the Separation, Danaher distributed to its stockholders one share of Veralto common stock for every three shares of Danaher common stock outstanding as of September 13, 2023, the record date for the distribution. Fractional shares of Veralto common stock that otherwise would have been distributed were aggregated and sold into the public market and the proceeds distributed to Danaher stockholders who otherwise would have received fractional shares of Veralto common stock.

In preparation for the Separation, in September 2023 Veralto issued approximately $2.6 billion in debt securities (refer to Note 13). The proceeds from these issuances were used to fund the approximately $2.6 billion net cash distributions Veralto made to Danaher prior to the Distribution Date (“Veralto Distribution”). Danaher used the Veralto Distribution proceeds to redeem approximately $1.0 billion of commercial paper, to satisfy bond maturities and to fund certain of the Company’s regular, quarterly cash dividends to shareholders.

The accounting requirements for reporting Veralto as a discontinued operation were met when the Separation was completed. Accordingly, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods presented reflect this business as a discontinued operation. The Company allocated a portion of the consolidated interest expense to discontinued operations based on the ratio of the discontinued business’ net assets to the Company’s consolidated net assets.

As a result of the Separation, the Company incurred $145 million and $9 million in Separation-related costs during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which are reflected in earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. These costs primarily relate to professional fees associated with preparation of regulatory filings and activities within finance, tax, legal and information technology functions as well as certain investment banking fees and tax costs incurred upon the Separation.

In connection with the Separation, Danaher and Veralto entered into various agreements to effect the Separation and provide a framework for their relationship after the Separation, including a separation and distribution agreement, transition services agreement, an employee matters agreement, a tax matters agreement, an intellectual property matters agreement and a Danaher Business System (“DBS”) license agreement. These agreements provide for the allocation between Danaher and Veralto of assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including investments, property, employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to, at and after Veralto’s separation from Danaher and govern certain relationships between Danaher and Veralto after the Separation. In addition, Danaher is also party to various commercial agreements with Veralto entities. The amounts paid and received by Danaher for transition services provided under the above agreements as well as sales and purchases to and from Veralto were not material to the Company’s results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

The key components of income from the Veralto business from discontinued operations for the years ended December 31 were as follows ($ in millions):

Selling, general and administrative expenses (1,236) (1,392)

Research and development expenses (168) (217)

Other income (expense) (14) 1

Interest expense (7) (7)

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes 731 1,146

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes $ 543 $ 881

68

Table of Contents

NOTE 4. NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Basic net earnings per share from continuing operations (“EPS”) is calculated by taking net earnings from continuing operations less the MCPS dividends divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the applicable period. Diluted net EPS from continuing operations is computed by taking net earnings from continuing operations less the MCPS dividends divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding increased by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding had the potentially dilutive common shares been issued and reduced by the number of shares the Company could have repurchased with the proceeds from the issuance of the potentially dilutive shares. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, 1.3 million, 3.5 million and 1.4 million options to purchase shares, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation, as the impact of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Basic and diluted EPS are computed independently for each quarter and annual period, which involves the use of different weighted-average share count figures relating to quarterly and annual periods. As a result, and after factoring the effect of rounding to the nearest cent per share, the sum of prior quarter-to-date EPS figures may not equal annual EPS.

On April 17, 2023, all outstanding shares of the MCPS Series B converted into 8.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The impact of the MCPS Series B calculated under the if-converted method was anti-dilutive for both of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and as such 2.5 million and 8.6 million shares, respectively, underlying the MCPS Series B were excluded in the calculation of diluted EPS and the related MCPS Series B dividends of $21 million and $86 million, respectively, were included in the calculation of net earnings for diluted EPS for the period.

On April 15, 2022, all outstanding shares of the MCPS Series A converted into 11.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The impact of the MCPS Series A calculated under the if-converted method was dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2022, and as such 3.0 million shares underlying the MCPS Series A were included in the calculation of diluted EPS and the related MCPS Series A dividends of $20 million were excluded from the calculation of net earnings for diluted EPS. Refer to Note 18 for additional information about the MCPS Series A and B conversions.

Information related to the calculation of net earnings per common share from continuing operations for the years ended December 31 is summarized as follows ($ and shares in millions, except per share amounts):

Numerator:

Net earnings from continuing operations $ 3,899 $ 4,221 $ 6,328

MCPS dividends — (21) (106)

Adjustment for MCPS dividends for dilutive MCPS — — 20

Denominator:

Weighted average common shares outstanding used in Basic EPS 731.0 736.5 725.1

Incremental common shares from:

Weighted average MCPS converted shares — — 3.0

Weighted average common shares outstanding used in Diluted EPS 737.2 743.1 737.1

Basic EPS from continuing operations $ 5.33 $ 5.70 $ 8.58

Diluted EPS from continuing operations $ 5.29 $ 5.65 $ 8.47

69

Table of Contents

NOTE 5. REVENUE

The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by geographical region and revenue type ($ in millions). Sales taxes and other usage-based taxes collected from customers are excluded from revenue.

Biotechnology Life Sciences Diagnostics Total

Geographical region:

Revenue type:

Geographical region:

Revenue type:

Geographical region:

Revenue type:

(a) The Company defines North America as the United States and Canada.

(b) The Company defines other developed markets as all the markets of the world that are not North America, Western Europe or high-growth markets.

(c) The Company defines high-growth markets as Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America (including Mexico) and Asia (with the exception of Japan, Australia and New Zealand). The Company defines developed markets as all markets of the world that are not high-growth markets.

70

Table of Contents

The Company’s products and services primarily consist of life sciences research, biopharmaceutical drug production and medical diagnostic products and services. The Company sells equipment to customers as well as consumables, software and services, some of which customers purchase on a recurring basis. Consumables sold for use with the equipment sold by the Company are typically critical to the use of the equipment and are typically used on a one-time or limited basis, requiring frequent replacement in the customer’s operating cycle. Examples of these consumables include reagents used in diagnostic tests, chromatography resins used for research and bioprocessing and filters used in filtration, separation and purification processes. Additionally, some of the Company’s consumables are used on a standalone basis, such as custom nucleic acids, genomics solutions, antibodies and immunoassays. The Company separates its goods and services between those typically sold to a customer on a recurring basis and those typically sold to a customer on a nonrecurring basis. Recurring revenue primarily includes revenue from consumables (both used with Company equipment and used on a standalone basis), services and OTLs. Nonrecurring revenue includes sales of equipment, point in time software licenses and STLs. OTLs and STLs are included in the above revenue amounts. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, lease revenue was $402 million, $410 million and $419 million, respectively.

Remaining Performance Obligations

Remaining performance obligations represent the aggregate transaction price allocated to performance obligations with an original contract term greater than one year which are fully or partially unsatisfied at the end of the period. Remaining performance obligations include noncancelable purchase orders, the non-lease portion of minimum purchase commitments under long-term consumable supply arrangements, extended warranty and service and other long-term contracts. These remaining performance obligations do not include revenue from contracts with customers with an original term of one year or less, revenue from long-term consumable supply arrangements with no minimum purchase requirements or revenue expected from purchases made in excess of the minimum purchase requirements or revenue from equipment leased to customers. While the remaining performance obligation disclosure is similar in concept to backlog, the definition of remaining performance obligations excludes leases and contracts that provide the customer with the right to cancel or terminate for convenience with no substantial penalty, even if historical experience indicates the likelihood of cancellation or termination is remote. Additionally, the Company has elected to exclude contracts with customers with an original term of one year or less from remaining performance obligations while these contracts are included within backlog.

As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $4.3 billion. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately 47% of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months, 27% over the subsequent 12 months, and the remainder recognized thereafter.

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed trade accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (“contract assets”) and deferred revenue, customer deposits and billings in excess of revenue recognized (“contract liabilities”) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, the Company defers certain costs incurred to obtain a contract (“contract costs”). Contract assets, liabilities and costs are reported on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets on a contract-by-contract basis. The balances of contract assets and contract costs as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were not significant and are classified as other current assets and other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The balance of contract costs are generally amortized into earnings on a straight-line basis (which is consistent with the transfer of control for the related goods or services). Amortization expense related to these costs for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was also not significant. The costs to obtain a contract where the amortization period for the related asset is one year or less are expensed as incurred and recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Source: SEC EDGAR (public domain) · 10-K for the period ended 2024-12-31, filed 2025-02-20 · accession 0000313616-25-000043

Filing HTML rendered to line-structured narrative text by the shipped reducer (datafeeds.edgar_fulltext.visible_text, keep_table_headers=True): scripts and inline-XBRL headers are dropped, and table content is reduced to its short label cells — numeric table data is not rendered and is therefore not counted. The same rendering is used for every year, so a year-over-year comparison is like for like.

The text is our rendering of the filing, not a facsimile: original pagination, typography and tables are not reproduced, and the numbers live in the financial statements (FA).

The outline locates item HEADINGS in this document. Only Items 1A and 7 have certified boundaries elsewhere in the terminal (the redline and the narrative-overlap number); every span here runs from one heading found to the next heading found.

How the outline was chosen. It is the longest chain of item headings that runs forward through both the document and the standard item order: 23 headings are on that chain and 17 further heading-shaped lines are not — the table-of-contents echo of every item, cross-references and exhibit-list mentions. Each entry's length is measured from its heading to the next heading on the chain.