Boardroom Alpha
Meeting calendar
DHR · Annual meeting · Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Danaher Corp

11 nominees · 4 ballot items.

Elect eleven directors; ratify Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditor; approve advisory (non‑binding) vote on executive compensation; and approve an amendment and restatement of the Omnibus Incentive Plan (add 20M shares and extend plan term).

Market cap
$144.3B
1Y TSR
-2.8%
Board grade
C
Record date
Mar 6, 2026
Filing
DEF 14A
Meeting concluded · May 5, 2026

Follow how the vote landed and what changed on Danaher Corp’s board — director track records, governance grades, and ongoing monitoring — on the Boardroom Alpha platform.

Proposals

On the ballot4

  1. 1

    Election of Directors

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Elect eleven director nominees to hold office until the 2027 Annual Meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified.

  2. 2

    Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of Ernst & Young LLP as Danaher’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026.

  3. 3

    Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation (Say-on-Pay

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Non‑binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation disclosed for the Company’s named executive officers, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and compensation tables.

    More detail

    This proposal asks shareholders to cast a non‑binding advisory vote approving the Company’s disclosed named executive officer (NEO) compensation as presented in the proxy, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative. Management seeks this advisory endorsement to confirm shareholder support for pay design and outcomes and to inform future compensation decisions; the Compensation Committee will consider voting results when setting future pay. The proxy discloses that Danaher’s program emphasizes long‑term, performance‑based equity, multi‑year vesting and stringent clawback policies, and that 2026 program changes were made to better align incentive metrics with Danaher’s evolving life‑science and diagnostics strategy (e.g., shifting metrics between annual and long‑term plans, adding time‑vested RSUs, changing PSU weighting and comparator group). The filing highlights strong shareholder engagement (contacting holders of ~50% of shares and engaging with ~20%) and that the 2025 say‑on‑pay received 93% support, which management cites as evidence of alignment. Key governance features include an independent compensation consultant, stock ownership requirements, no hedging/pledging, and discretionary committee authority to adjust awards. Economically, the program ties a large portion of pay to relative TSR‑based PSUs (with ROIC modifier) and multi‑year holding periods, while annual cash incentives use Adjusted EPS, Free Cash Flow Ratio and Core Revenue Growth; 2026 refinements shift emphasis to adjusted operating income and other measures to sharpen accountability. In recommending a FOR vote, the Board argues these elements promote long‑term shareholder value, retention and appropriate risk management while preserving Committee discretion to respond to changing circumstances. Institutional investors should evaluate the non‑binding recommendation in light of these programmatic changes, recent performance outcomes, and the company’s disclosures on target setting, peer group composition, and clawback provisions.

  4. 4

    Approval of Amended and Restated Danaher Corporation Omnibus Incentive Plan

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Approve amendments to the Omnibus Incentive Plan to increase the share reserve by 20 million shares and extend the plan term to May 5, 2036 so the Company can continue granting equity awards.

    More detail

    This management proposal requests shareholder approval to amend and restate Danaher’s Omnibus Incentive Plan to add 20 million shares to the reserve and extend the plan term to May 5, 2036. Management frames the request as routine and necessary to ensure sufficient shares are available to grant equity awards that attract, retain and incentivize employees and directors and align their interests with shareholders. The filing provides supporting metrics: a 2025 burn rate of 0.42%, a 2023–2025 average burn rate of 0.43%, and an actual overhang of 8.30% (pro‑forma 10.60% including the requested shares), positions the company near peer norms and argues the additional reserve should support grants through approximately 2033 assuming typical grant practices and stock price behavior. The Plan contains standard corporate governance features (minimum one‑year vesting for most awards with limited exceptions, per‑participant caps, anti‑recycling provisions, adjustment and anti‑dilution rules, and robust clawback provisions), and management notes it is not seeking other substantive changes. From a governance perspective, investors should review the incremental dilution versus the company’s historical usage, the per‑participant limits, fungible counting rules (full‑value awards count as 3.56 shares post‑2017), and the board’s rationale that the reserve is prudent given Danaher’s acquisition activity and need for long‑term incentives. The Committee’s recommendation is supported by peer‑relative metrics and an expectation that equity awards will remain a primary retention and pay‑for‑performance tool; institutional investors will weigh the incremental dilution against dilution management’s framing and long‑term shareholder alignment features when deciding whether to support the amendment.

Director elections

Nominees on the ballot11

Independent
Tenure on this board
21.5 yrs
Also a director at
Carlyle Group Inc (CG)Veralto Corp (VLTO)
Independent
Tenure on this board
14.8 yrs
Also a director at
Microsoft Corp (MSFT)Visa Inc (V)Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU)
Not independent
Tenure on this board
42.5 yrs
Also a director at
Esab Corp (ESAB)
Independent
Tenure on this board
5.2 yrs
Also a director at
Commvault Systems Inc (CVLT)
Independent
Tenure on this board
27.5 yrs
Also a director at
People Inc (PPLI)Ralliant Corp (RAL)
Ownership

Top institutional holders10

Latest 13F quarter
1VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC5.8%41,127,810$7.8B
2STATE STREET CORP3.9%27,894,181$5.3B
3BlackRock, Inc.2.3%16,159,866$3.1B
4FMR LLC2.3%16,112,227$3.1B
5PRICE T ROWE ASSOCIATES INC /MD/2.0%14,434,304$2.7B
6WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP2.0%14,273,398$2.7B
7Capital International Investors2.0%14,014,713$2.7B
8VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC2.0%13,954,705$2.6B
9BlackRock, Inc.1.8%12,772,540$2.4B
10GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC1.7%12,123,108$2.3B
Filings

Recent key filings

Periodic reports
Definitive proxies
Reference

Frequently asked questions

When is the Danaher Corp 2026 annual meeting?
Danaher Corp (DHR) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
What is the record date for the Danaher Corp 2026 meeting?
The record date for the Danaher Corp 2026 meeting is Friday, March 6, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
Who are the director nominees for Danaher Corp's 2026 meeting?
The board is presenting 11 director nominees at the Danaher Corp 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Danaher Corp 2026 meeting?
Shareholders will vote on 4 proposals at the Danaher Corp 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
Disclaimer

The opinions and information contained herein have been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable, but Boardroom Alpha cannot guarantee its accuracy and completeness, and that of the opinions based thereon.

This report contains opinions and is provided for informational purposes only – it does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. You should not rely solely upon the research herein for purposes of transacting securities or other investments, and you are encouraged to conduct your own research and due diligence, and to seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before you make any investment.

None of the information contained in this report constitutes, or is intended to constitute a recommendation by Boardroom Alpha of any particular security or trading strategy or a determination by Boardroom Alpha that any security or trading strategy is suitable for any specific person. To the extent any of the information contained herein may be deemed to be investment advice, such information is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person.

No representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made on behalf of Boardroom Alpha as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. Boardroom Alpha does not accept any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on all or any part of this research and any liability is expressly disclaimed.

Full disclaimer