Revenue during the quarter grew 7.18 percent to $4,205.70 million from $3,924.10 million in the previous year period. Gross margin for the quarter expanded 27 basis points over the previous year period to 55.50 percent. Total expenses were 85.17 percent of quarterly revenues, up from 84.38 percent for the same period last year. That has resulted in a contraction of 79 basis points in operating margin to 14.83 percent.

Operating income for the quarter was $623.90 million, compared with $613.10 million in the previous year period.

Thomas P. Joyce, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are off to a good start in 2017. During the first quarter, our two most recent large acquisitions, Pall and Cepheid, performed very well. We drove share gains in a number of our operating companies and achieved high-single-digit adjusted earnings per share growth. We also continued to reinvest in our businesses to enhance our long-term growth trajectory, and we feel well-positioned to benefit from a number of compelling market drivers across the portfolio."

For financial year 2017, Danaher Corporation forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $3.13 to $3.23.  The company forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $3.85 to $3.95 on adjusted basis.

For the second-quarter, Danaher Corporation forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.77 to $0.80 . On an adjusted basis, the company forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.95 to $0.98.