Danaher Corp. (DHR)

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
Leased assets and leasehold improvements	Amortized over the lesser of the economic life of the asset or the term of the lease
Machinery and equipment	3 – 10 years
Customer-leased instruments	5 – 7 years

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

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21).

Danaher Corp., Statement of Financial Position, Property, Plant and Equipment

USD $ in thousands

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

Item	Description	The company
Gross property, plant and equipment	Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.	Danaher Corp.’s gross property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.
Property, plant and equipment, net	Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.	Danaher Corp.’s property, plant and equipment, net declined from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly increased from 2016 to 2017.

Danaher Corp., Property, Plant and Equipment Ratios

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

Ratio	Description	The company
Average age	As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient.	Danaher Corp.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017.
Estimated total useful life	Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors.	Danaher Corp.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly increased from 2016 to 2017.
Estimated time elapsed since purchase	The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes.	Danaher Corp.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.
Estimated remaining life		Danaher Corp.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Average age	As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient.	Danaher Corp.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Estimated total useful life	Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors.	Danaher Corp.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly increased from 2016 to 2017.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Estimated time elapsed since purchase	The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes.	Danaher Corp.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Estimated remaining life		Danaher Corp.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.