Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.

Liabilities represents obligations of a company arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow of economic benefits from the entity.

Danaher Corp., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity

US$ in millions

	Dec 31, 2024	Dec 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt	505)	1,695)	591)	8)	11)
Trade accounts payable	1,753)	1,766)	2,296)	2,569)	2,049)
Compensation and benefits	1,101)	1,127)	1,375)	1,371)	1,393)
Pension and postretirement benefits	56)	57)	59)	72)	69)
Taxes, income and other	568)	582)	691)	707)	552)
Contract liabilities	1,299)	1,465)	1,648)	1,613)	1,212)
Sales and product allowances	185)	155)	198)	221)	200)
Current operating lease liabilities	173)	180)	199)	207)	189)
Cross-currency swap derivative liabilities	—)	—)	—)	—)	622)
Contract settlement financing payable	75)	75)	75)	75)	—)
Other	1,083)	1,172)	1,257)	1,297)	1,105)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	4,540)	4,813)	5,502)	5,563)	5,342)
Current liabilities	6,798)	8,274)	8,389)	8,140)	7,402)
Compensation and benefits	289)	254)	255)	269)	178)
Pension and postretirement benefits	560)	544)	506)	876)	1,502)
Taxes, income and other	3,138)	3,428)	4,213)	4,750)	4,951)
Contract liabilities	232)	249)	235)	213)	205)
Sales and product allowances	6)	6)	6)	2)	2)
Long-term operating lease liabilities	968)	954)	863)	889)	785)
Contract settlement financing payable	287)	354)	420)	481)	—)
Other	214)	228)	287)	219)	166)
Other long-term liabilities	5,694)	6,017)	6,785)	7,699)	7,789)
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	15,500)	16,707)	19,086)	22,168)	21,193)
Long-term liabilities	21,194)	22,724)	25,871)	29,867)	28,982)
Total liabilities	27,992)	30,998)	34,260)	38,007)	36,384)
Preferred stock, no par value	—)	—)	1,668)	3,268)	3,268)
Common stock, $0.01 par value	9)	9)	9)	9)	9)
Additional paid-in capital	16,727)	16,170)	12,072)	10,090)	9,698)
Treasury stock	(8,163)	(2,019)	—)	—)	—)
Retained earnings	44,188)	41,074)	39,205)	32,827)	27,159)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,218)	(1,748)	(2,872)	(1,027)	(368)
Total Danaher stockholders’ equity	49,543)	53,486)	50,082)	45,167)	39,766)
Noncontrolling interests	7)	4)	8)	10)	11)
Total stockholders’ equity	49,550)	53,490)	50,090)	45,177)	39,777)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	77,542)	84,488)	84,350)	83,184)	76,161)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

An analysis of the annual financial data reveals several important trends in the company's liabilities and stockholders’ equity over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024.

Current Liabilities: The total current liabilities showed an initial increase from 7,402 million USD in 2020 to a peak of 8,389 million USD in 2022, followed by a slight decline to 6,798 million USD by 2024. Notably, the "Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt" experienced a significant surge in 2022 (591 million USD) and further escalated in 2023 (1,695 million USD) before sharply decreasing to 505 million USD in 2024. Trade accounts payable decreased steadily from 2,569 million USD in 2021 to 1,753 million USD in 2024. Compensation and benefits related to current liabilities declined consistently from 1,393 million USD in 2020 to 1,101 million USD in 2024, suggesting improved cost control or operational changes.
Other Current Liabilities: Items such as accrued expenses and other liabilities rose moderately from 5,342 million USD in 2020 to 5,563 million USD in 2021, then trended down to 4,540 million USD in 2024. Contract liabilities peaked at 1,648 million USD in 2022 before decreasing gradually. The absence of cross-currency swap derivative liabilities data from 2021 onward limits full trend assessment in this category.
Long-Term Liabilities: Long-term liabilities, including long-term debt less the current portion, showed a declining trend from 28,982 million USD in 2020 to 21,194 million USD in 2024. Long-term debt specifically decreased consistently, dropping from 21,193 million USD in 2020 to 15,500 million USD by 2024. Similarly, other long-term liabilities fell from 7,789 million USD in 2020 to 5,694 million USD in 2024, indicating debt repayment and possible refinancing activities.
Total Liabilities: The total liabilities followed a declining trajectory from a high of 38,007 million USD in 2021 to 27,992 million USD in 2024. This reflects the overall reduction in both current and long-term obligations.
Stockholders’ Equity: Stockholders’ equity exhibited growth from 39,777 million USD in 2020, peaking at 53,490 million USD in 2023 before declining to 49,550 million USD in 2024. Retained earnings increased consistently throughout the period, reaching 44,188 million USD in 2024, which implies profitable operations contributing to earnings retention. Additional paid-in capital also rose significantly, notably between 2021 and 2024, indicating capital infusions or stock-based compensation. The accumulated other comprehensive loss deepened overall, indicating increased unrealized losses or valuation adjustments affecting equity negatively. Treasury stock increased sharply as a negative balance in later years, particularly in 2023 and 2024, which could reflect substantial share repurchases.
Balance Sheet Total: The combined total of liabilities and stockholders’ equity fluctuated, rising from 76,161 million USD in 2020 to a high of 84,488 million USD in 2023, then contracting to 77,542 million USD by 2024, driven mainly by changes in equity and liabilities.

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Danaher Corp. (NYSE:DHR)

Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity