Fisher Scientific: The Channel on the BenchNarrow moat

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) — moat facet

Thermo Fisher owns the catalogue laboratories order from, which earns thin margins itself but hands its own products a customer list.

Thermo Fisher owns the catalogue laboratories order from. The research and safety market channel had revenue of $7,440 million in 2025 and the healthcare market channel $1,788 million1, together 20.7% of revenue2. The first sits in Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services and the second in Specialty Diagnostics3.

Distribution channel revenue ($M)6,841R and S 20237,440R and S 20251,712Healthcare 20231,788Healthcare 2025Thermo Fisher Form 10-K FY2025, revenue by business
Both channels up since 2023.

The channel's value is not its margin, which is thin: the segment holding the larger channel earned 14.0% in 20254. Its value is reach. It gives the company's reagents and instruments a route to customers that already have an account, and it makes Thermo Fisher the default supplier for the next item on a lab's list.

The internal traffic shows it. The segments sold $2,033 million to one another in 20255, and when the company sold its microbiology business it disclosed that about a quarter of that business's revenue went through the channel6.

The channel is growing faster than the whole. The research and safety channel added $422 million in 20257 against a company increase of $1,677 million8, and grew 8.1% in the second quarter of 20269.

The limits are that a catalogue can be copied, and that the 10-K counts third-party distributors among its competitors10.

Distribution is not cheap to run. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expense was 15.6% of revenue in the second quarter of 202611, a cost that includes the sales force and logistics behind the catalogue. Spread over $11,994 million of quarterly revenue12, that is the price of being on every bench. A rival would have to match it before it could undercut the channel.

The distribution arm is larger than it looks from outside. The research and safety market channel alone had revenue of $7,440 million in 2025, almost as much as the whole Analytical Instruments segment at $7,554 million13. Inside Thermo Fisher sits a distribution business about the size of one of its manufacturing segments.

This facet is narrow and stable. It would be falsified by channel growth falling below the company's organic rate, which would mean labs were ordering elsewhere. The research and safety channel's quarterly revenue, $2,036 million in the latest quarter14, is the number.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

Channel revenue growing faster than the company; segment margin 14.0%.

The number that tests this moat
Moat Explorer calc
Distribution channels share of revenue, full year
20.7% ($9,228M of $44,556M, 2025)

Reach into the lab; a falling share with the company growing would mean customers are ordering elsewhere.

How it's calculated: Research and safety market channel ($7,440M) plus healthcare market channel ($1,788M) divided by revenue ($44,556M) in 2025, from the FY2025 10-K.
Source: Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher filings ↗
Aspects of the moat
DIG DEEPER 01
Research and Safety Channel: $7.44 Billion
Fisher Scientific's research and safety channel grows faster than Thermo Fisher does, because the lab that orders one thing from its catalogue tends…
DIG DEEPER 02
$2 Billion of Its Own Products Through Its Own Channel
Thermo Fisher's product segments sell $2 billion a year to their own distribution arm, which gives a new reagent a customer list on day one.
DIG DEEPER 03
Healthcare Market Channel: $1.79 Billion
Thermo Fisher's healthcare channel sells the same convenience to hospitals, and it grew 8.6% in the second quarter of 2026 after two slow years.
DIG DEEPER 04
Half the Revenue Outside the United States
Thermo Fisher earns half its revenue outside the United States and employs more people abroad than at home, which suits customers who are global…
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
Tariffs Took 100 Basis Points of Margin
Tariffs cost Thermo Fisher more than a point of operating margin in late 2025, and fell hardest on its instrument business.
⚠ THREAT 02
Laboratory Products Fell 7.9% in Two Years
Thermo Fisher's laboratory products line has shrunk two years running while the catalogue around it grew.
References
  1. ReportedThe research and safety market channel had revenue of $7,440 million in 2025 and the healthcare market channel $1,788 million, together 20.7% of revenue.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - revenue by business. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  2. Moat Explorer calcThe research and safety market channel had revenue of $7,440 million in 2025 and the healthcare market channel $1,788 million, together 20.7% of revenue.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher's reported financial statements, results releases, earnings calls and market data ($ millions unless stated). Revenue by type: consumables + services share (18,664 + 18,592) / 44,556 = 83.6% (2025); (12,576 + 5,490) / 24,358 = 74.2% (2018); (13,109 + 6,046) / 25,542 = 75.0% (2019); (18,527 + 6,912) / 32,218 = 79.0% (2020); (22,608 + 8,850) / 39,211 = 80.2% (2021); (20,624 + 16,367) / 44,915 = 82.4% (2022); (17,597 + 17,614) / 42,857 = 82.2% (2023); (17,587 + 17,845) / 42,879 = 82.6% (2024); H1 2026 (9,794 + 9,899) / 22,999 = 85.6%. Instruments 7,301 / 7,924 - 1 = -7.9% (2022-2025), a fall of 623. Consumables 18,664 / 17,587 - 1 = 6.1%. Services 18,592 / 17,845 - 1 = 4.2%. Gross margin by type 2025: products (25,965 - 13,405) / 25,965 = 48.4%; services (18,592 - 12,913) / 18,592 = 30.5%; total (44,556 - 13,405 - 12,913) / 44,556 = 40.9%. Businesses: BioProduction 2,652 / 2,923 - 1 = -9.3% (2024), 3,200 / 2,652 - 1 = 20.7% (2025), Q2 2026 941 / 745 - 1 = 26.3%. Biosciences 4,169 / 4,238 - 1 = -1.6%. Transplant 492 / 393 - 1 = 25.2%, Q2 134 / 124 - 1 = 8.1%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 / 802 - 1 = 13.7%, Q2 248 / 234 - 1 = 6.0%. Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 1,104 - 1 = 1.0%. Microbiology 645 / 618 - 1 = 4.4% (about 2.2% a year); sale price 1,075 / 645 = 1.7 times; microbiology / Specialty Diagnostics 645 / 4,676 = 13.8%. Research and safety channel 7,440 / 6,841 - 1 = 8.8%, Q2 2,036 / 1,883 - 1 = 8.1%, 7,440 - 6,841 = 599. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 1,712 - 1 = 4.4%, 1,788 / 1,764 - 1 = 1.4% (2025), Q2 442 / 407 - 1 = 8.6%. Laboratory products 2,407 / 2,613 - 1 = -7.9%. Channels (7,440 + 1,788) / 44,556 = 9,228 / 44,556 = 20.7%. Revenue growth: 44,556 / 42,879 - 1 = 3.9% (2025), increase 44,556 - 42,879 = 1,677; 44,556 / 42,857 - 1 = 4.0% (2023-2025); 44,556 / 16,965 = 2.6 times (2015-2025). Research channel share of the increase 422 / 1,677 = 25%. Eliminations / revenue 633 / 16,965 = 3.7% (2015), 2,033 / 44,556 = 4.6% (2025). Life Sciences Solutions sold to other segments 1,593 / 10,374 = 15.4%; external revenue 8,781 / 8,160 - 1 = 7.6%. Pharma services 7,142 / 6,685 - 1 = 6.8%; clinical research 7,915 / 7,836 - 1 = 1.0%; Q2 2026 clinical research 2,396 / 1,955 - 1 = 22.6%. Clinical research + pharma services 7,915 + 7,142 = 15,057, / 44,556 = 33.8% (2025); (7,836 + 6,685) / 42,879 = 33.9% (2024); (7,691 + 6,806) / 42,857 = 33.8% (2023); Q2 2026 2,396 + 1,893 = 4,289, / 11,994 = 35.8%; Q2 2025 1,955 + 1,794 = 3,749. Patheon + PPD + Clario 7,358 + 16,036 + 9,098 = 32,492. Clario price / 2025 revenue 9,098 / 1,500 = 6.1 times; 9,098 / 1,250 = 7.3 times; goodwill 5,934 / 9,098 = 65%. Filtration 3,870 / 750 = 5.2 times. LPBS capital expenditure 1,005 / 1,525 = 65.9%. Revenue per employee 32,218 / 80,000 = about $403,000 (2020); 44,556 / 125,000 = about $356,000 (2025); 356 / 403 - 1 = -12%. Remaining performance obligations 24.61 / 28.30 - 1 = -13.0% (2021-2024); 29.70 / 46.336 = 64% of trailing revenue. 2019 backlog 4,577 / 7,768 = 59%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 44,556 - 21,219 + 22,999 = 46,336; net income 6,704 - 3,124 + 3,387 = 6,967. COVID: Life Sciences Solutions segment income 3,420 / 7,817 - 1 = -56%; testing 0.33 / 7.26 = 4.5% remaining. Tax rate 547 / 7,308 = 7.5% (2025); 657 / 7,037 = 9.3% (2024); 284 / 6,298 = 4.5% (2023). R&D 1,397 / 44,556 = 3.1%. Adjusted less GAAP EPS 22.87 - 17.74 = 5.13. Acquisitions booked since 2021: PPD 16,036 + PeproTech 1,864 + European viral vector 830 + Mesa Biotech 472 + The Binding Site 2,699 + CorEvitas 910 + Olink 3,146 + filtration and separation 3,870 + Clario 9,098 = 38,925. Goodwill and intangibles / total assets (54,832 + 18,606) / 113,174 = 73,438 / 113,174 = 65% (June 2026); (49,362 + 15,838) / 110,343 = 59% (end 2025). Genetic sciences 2,870 / 2,787 - 1 = 3.0%. Analytical Instruments 7,554 / 63,400 = 11.9% of the MarketsandMarkets estimate; revenue 7,463 / 7,263 - 1 = 2.8% (2024), 7,554 / 7,463 - 1 = 1.2% (2025), Q2 1,847 / 1,728 - 1 = 6.9%. Market value against Danaher 249.58 / 157.81 - 1 = 58%. China share of revenue 2,060 / 20,918 = 9.8% (2017), 2,752 / 25,542 = 10.8% (2019), 3,444 / 39,211 = 8.8% (2021), 3,793 / 44,915 = 8.4% (2022). Year-end P/E = market value / net income: 56.61 / 1.975 = 28.7 (2015), 55.74 / 2.022 = 27.6 (2016), 76.14 / 2.225 = 34.2 (2017), 90.09 / 2.938 = 30.7 (2018), 130.27 / 3.696 = 35.2 (2019), 184.61 / 6.375 = 29.0 (2020), 262.92 / 7.725 = 34.0 (2021), 215.98 / 6.950 = 31.1 (2022), 205.08 / 5.995 = 34.2 (2023), 198.99 / 6.335 = 31.4 (2024), 217.70 / 6.704 = 32.5 (2025), trailing 249.58 / 6.967 = 35.8. Segment margins = segment income / segment revenue: Life Sciences Solutions 1,414 / 4,774 = 29.6% (2015), 2,446 / 6,856 = 35.7% (2019), 7,817 / 15,631 = 50.0% (2021), 3,420 / 9,977 = 34.3% (2023), 3,503 / 9,631 = 36.4% (2024); Analytical Instruments 613 / 3,208 = 19.1% (2015), 1,027 / 4,821 = 21.3% (2017), 1,273 / 5,522 = 23.1% (2019), 808 / 5,124 = 15.8% (2020), 1,908 / 7,263 = 26.3% (2023); Specialty Diagnostics 873 / 3,244 = 26.9% (2015), 1,024 / 4,763 = 21.5% (2022); LPBS 922 / 6,372 = 14.5% (2015), 1,271 / 12,245 = 10.4% (2020), 1,844 / 14,862 = 12.4% (2021), 2,872 / 22,511 = 12.8% (2022), 3,358 / 23,041 = 14.6% (2023), 3,090 / 23,157 = 13.3% (2024). Segment shares 2025: Life Sciences Solutions income 3,768 / 10,109 = 37.3%, revenue 10,374 / 46,589 = 22.3%; LPBS external revenue 23,818 / 44,556 = 53.5%. Combined segment margin 10,109 / (44,556 + 2,033) = 10,109 / 46,589 = 21.7%. Segment growth: Life Sciences Solutions 10,374 / 9,631 - 1 = 7.7% (2025), Q2 2026 2,815 / 2,499 - 1 = 12.6%; Specialty Diagnostics 4,676 / 4,512 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 1,205 / 1,134 - 1 = 6.3%; LPBS 23,984 / 23,157 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 6,693 / 5,995 - 1 = 11.6%. Ten-year compound growth 2015-2025: Life Sciences Solutions (10,374 / 4,774)^(1/10) - 1 = 8.1%; Specialty Diagnostics (4,676 / 3,244)^(1/10) - 1 = 3.7%; LPBS (23,984 / 6,372)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.2%. Additional: return on equity 6,704 / ((53,407 + 49,584) / 2) = 13.0% (2025). Instruments share 6,292 / 24,358 = 25.8% (2018), 3,305 / 22,999 = 14.4% (H1 2026). Life Sciences Solutions segment income Q2 1,041 / 919 - 1 = 13.3%. Services share 2,297 / 16,965 = 13.5% (2015), 18,592 / 44,556 = 41.7% (2025). Service gross margin (17,614 - 12,589) / 17,614 = 28.5% (2023), (17,845 - 12,654) / 17,845 = 29.1% (2024); product (25,034 - 12,523) / 25,034 = 50.0% (2024). LPBS growth 23,984 - 23,157 = 827 = 457 + 422 - 118 (laboratory products) + 79 (clinical research) - 13 (eliminations). Eliminations 3,010 / 39,211 = 7.7% (2021). Europe 11,826 / 10,741 - 1 = 10.1%; North America 23,033 / 22,764 - 1 = 1.2% (2023-2025). Headcount 125,000 / 122,000 - 1 = 2.5%. Electron microscopy 2,957 / 2,564 - 1 = 15.3%. Net debt end 2025 39,380 - 9,852 - 253 = 29,275. Goodwill added 54,832 - 45,853 = 8,979 (end 2024 to June 2026). Specialty Diagnostics best annual margin 910 / 3,339 = 27.3% (2016). Intersegment shares 2025: 201 / 7,554 = 2.7%, 72 / 4,676 = 1.5%, 167 / 23,984 = 0.7%. COVID response less testing 2021: 9.23 - 7.26 = 1.97 billion. Buyback gain 675.00 / 482.66 - 1 = 40%. Olink goodwill 2,301 / 3,146 = 73%. Life Sciences acquisitions 1,342 + 1,864 + 3,146 + 3,870 = 10,222; segment revenue 10,374 - 4,774 = 5,600. Instrumentation market (92.53 / 63.4)^(1/6) - 1 = 6.5%. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 4,676 = 38%. LPBS segment income Q2 936 / 825 - 1 = 13.5%. Interest cover 7,746 / 1,419 = 5.5 times. EPS 17.74 / 4.92 = 3.6 times. One-point price cut 7,440 x 1% = 74, / 3,350 = 2.2%. Laboratory products 2,407 - 2,525 = -118. Clinical diagnostics Q2 290 / 276 - 1 = 5.1%. Revenue 44,556 - 32,218 = 12,338 (2020-2025). Healthcare channel 1,764 / 1,712 - 1 = 3.0% (2024). Tax at 11.5% instead of 7.5%: 7,308 x 4% = 292. Microbiology Q2 166 / 159 - 1 = 4.4%. Pharma services 6,685 / 6,806 - 1 = -1.8% (2024). Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 4,676 = 23.8%. Revenue per employee 20,918 / 70,000 = about $299,000 (2017); 25,542 / 75,000 = about $341,000 (2019). Research and safety channel 7,019 / 6,841 - 1 = 2.6% (2024), 7,440 / 7,019 - 1 = 6.0% (2025). Backlog 7,768 / 5,087 - 1 = 52.7% (2019). Restructuring 362 / 7,746 = 4.7%. Laboratory products Q2 608 / 601 - 1 = 1.2%. Services 18,592 / 17,614 - 1 = 5.6%, cost of services 12,913 / 12,589 - 1 = 2.6% (2023-2025). Life Sciences Solutions internal share (9,977 - 8,545) / 9,977 = 14.4% (2023). Biosciences 4,169 / 10,374 = 40.2%. COVID share 6.63 / 32.218 = 20.6% (2020), 9.23 / 39.211 = 23.5% (2021). R&D 1,397 / 1,337 - 1 = 4.5%. Segment income / total assets 10,109 / 110,343 = 9.2%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 - 802 = 110; clinical diagnostics 1,115 - 1,104 = 11. Restructuring 459 / 6,859 = 6.7% (2023). Microbiology 645 / 44,556 = 1.4%. Laboratory products 2,613 / 23,041 = 11.3% (2023), 2,407 / 23,984 = 10.0% (2025). Clario 0.45 x 371.5 = about 167, / 9,098 = 1.8%. LPBS capex / segment income 1,005 / 3,350 = 30%; Life Sciences Solutions 152 / 3,768 = 4.0%. Equity / assets 52,686 / 113,174 = 46.6%. Clinical research 7,915 / 44,556 = 17.8%. Eliminations Q2 565 / 501 - 1 = 12.8%. Instruments 7,301 / 6,292 - 1 = 16.0%. Revenue per employee 18,274 / 55,000 = about $332,000 (2016). Healthcare channel 1,788 / 44,556 = 4.0%. China 2,797 / 32,218 = 8.7% (2020). RPO 29.70 - 27.92 = 1.78 billion - revenue by business: growth and shares. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Thermo Fisher's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, results releases, earnings calls, MarketsandMarkets and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  3. ReportedThe first sits in Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services and the second in Specialty Diagnostics.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - segment information: revenue, income, margins, assets and capital spending. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedThe channel's value is not its margin, which is thin: the segment holding the larger channel earned 14.0% in 2025.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - segment information: revenue, income, margins, assets and capital spending. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedThe segments sold $2,033 million to one another in 2025, and when the company sold its microbiology business it disclosed that about a quarter of that business's revenue went through the channel.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - revenue by business. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedThe segments sold $2,033 million to one another in 2025, and when the company sold its microbiology business it disclosed that about a quarter of that business's revenue went through the channel.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific second-quarter 2026 earnings call transcript (Motley Fool) - organic growth by segment and market, China, the raised 2026 guidance, leverage, adjusted ROIC and the microbiology sale. Figures from the transcript body, not the summary block - organic growth by segment, end market and region, and the microbiology sale. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedThe research and safety channel added $422 million in 2025 against a company increase of $1,677 million, and grew 8.1% in the second quarter of 2026.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - financial statements: income, cash flow, repurchases, debt and equity. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  8. Moat Explorer calcThe research and safety channel added $422 million in 2025 against a company increase of $1,677 million, and grew 8.1% in the second quarter of 2026.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher's reported financial statements, results releases, earnings calls and market data ($ millions unless stated). Revenue by type: consumables + services share (18,664 + 18,592) / 44,556 = 83.6% (2025); (12,576 + 5,490) / 24,358 = 74.2% (2018); (13,109 + 6,046) / 25,542 = 75.0% (2019); (18,527 + 6,912) / 32,218 = 79.0% (2020); (22,608 + 8,850) / 39,211 = 80.2% (2021); (20,624 + 16,367) / 44,915 = 82.4% (2022); (17,597 + 17,614) / 42,857 = 82.2% (2023); (17,587 + 17,845) / 42,879 = 82.6% (2024); H1 2026 (9,794 + 9,899) / 22,999 = 85.6%. Instruments 7,301 / 7,924 - 1 = -7.9% (2022-2025), a fall of 623. Consumables 18,664 / 17,587 - 1 = 6.1%. Services 18,592 / 17,845 - 1 = 4.2%. Gross margin by type 2025: products (25,965 - 13,405) / 25,965 = 48.4%; services (18,592 - 12,913) / 18,592 = 30.5%; total (44,556 - 13,405 - 12,913) / 44,556 = 40.9%. Businesses: BioProduction 2,652 / 2,923 - 1 = -9.3% (2024), 3,200 / 2,652 - 1 = 20.7% (2025), Q2 2026 941 / 745 - 1 = 26.3%. Biosciences 4,169 / 4,238 - 1 = -1.6%. Transplant 492 / 393 - 1 = 25.2%, Q2 134 / 124 - 1 = 8.1%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 / 802 - 1 = 13.7%, Q2 248 / 234 - 1 = 6.0%. Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 1,104 - 1 = 1.0%. Microbiology 645 / 618 - 1 = 4.4% (about 2.2% a year); sale price 1,075 / 645 = 1.7 times; microbiology / Specialty Diagnostics 645 / 4,676 = 13.8%. Research and safety channel 7,440 / 6,841 - 1 = 8.8%, Q2 2,036 / 1,883 - 1 = 8.1%, 7,440 - 6,841 = 599. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 1,712 - 1 = 4.4%, 1,788 / 1,764 - 1 = 1.4% (2025), Q2 442 / 407 - 1 = 8.6%. Laboratory products 2,407 / 2,613 - 1 = -7.9%. Channels (7,440 + 1,788) / 44,556 = 9,228 / 44,556 = 20.7%. Revenue growth: 44,556 / 42,879 - 1 = 3.9% (2025), increase 44,556 - 42,879 = 1,677; 44,556 / 42,857 - 1 = 4.0% (2023-2025); 44,556 / 16,965 = 2.6 times (2015-2025). Research channel share of the increase 422 / 1,677 = 25%. Eliminations / revenue 633 / 16,965 = 3.7% (2015), 2,033 / 44,556 = 4.6% (2025). Life Sciences Solutions sold to other segments 1,593 / 10,374 = 15.4%; external revenue 8,781 / 8,160 - 1 = 7.6%. Pharma services 7,142 / 6,685 - 1 = 6.8%; clinical research 7,915 / 7,836 - 1 = 1.0%; Q2 2026 clinical research 2,396 / 1,955 - 1 = 22.6%. Clinical research + pharma services 7,915 + 7,142 = 15,057, / 44,556 = 33.8% (2025); (7,836 + 6,685) / 42,879 = 33.9% (2024); (7,691 + 6,806) / 42,857 = 33.8% (2023); Q2 2026 2,396 + 1,893 = 4,289, / 11,994 = 35.8%; Q2 2025 1,955 + 1,794 = 3,749. Patheon + PPD + Clario 7,358 + 16,036 + 9,098 = 32,492. Clario price / 2025 revenue 9,098 / 1,500 = 6.1 times; 9,098 / 1,250 = 7.3 times; goodwill 5,934 / 9,098 = 65%. Filtration 3,870 / 750 = 5.2 times. LPBS capital expenditure 1,005 / 1,525 = 65.9%. Revenue per employee 32,218 / 80,000 = about $403,000 (2020); 44,556 / 125,000 = about $356,000 (2025); 356 / 403 - 1 = -12%. Remaining performance obligations 24.61 / 28.30 - 1 = -13.0% (2021-2024); 29.70 / 46.336 = 64% of trailing revenue. 2019 backlog 4,577 / 7,768 = 59%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 44,556 - 21,219 + 22,999 = 46,336; net income 6,704 - 3,124 + 3,387 = 6,967. COVID: Life Sciences Solutions segment income 3,420 / 7,817 - 1 = -56%; testing 0.33 / 7.26 = 4.5% remaining. Tax rate 547 / 7,308 = 7.5% (2025); 657 / 7,037 = 9.3% (2024); 284 / 6,298 = 4.5% (2023). R&D 1,397 / 44,556 = 3.1%. Adjusted less GAAP EPS 22.87 - 17.74 = 5.13. Acquisitions booked since 2021: PPD 16,036 + PeproTech 1,864 + European viral vector 830 + Mesa Biotech 472 + The Binding Site 2,699 + CorEvitas 910 + Olink 3,146 + filtration and separation 3,870 + Clario 9,098 = 38,925. Goodwill and intangibles / total assets (54,832 + 18,606) / 113,174 = 73,438 / 113,174 = 65% (June 2026); (49,362 + 15,838) / 110,343 = 59% (end 2025). Genetic sciences 2,870 / 2,787 - 1 = 3.0%. Analytical Instruments 7,554 / 63,400 = 11.9% of the MarketsandMarkets estimate; revenue 7,463 / 7,263 - 1 = 2.8% (2024), 7,554 / 7,463 - 1 = 1.2% (2025), Q2 1,847 / 1,728 - 1 = 6.9%. Market value against Danaher 249.58 / 157.81 - 1 = 58%. China share of revenue 2,060 / 20,918 = 9.8% (2017), 2,752 / 25,542 = 10.8% (2019), 3,444 / 39,211 = 8.8% (2021), 3,793 / 44,915 = 8.4% (2022). Year-end P/E = market value / net income: 56.61 / 1.975 = 28.7 (2015), 55.74 / 2.022 = 27.6 (2016), 76.14 / 2.225 = 34.2 (2017), 90.09 / 2.938 = 30.7 (2018), 130.27 / 3.696 = 35.2 (2019), 184.61 / 6.375 = 29.0 (2020), 262.92 / 7.725 = 34.0 (2021), 215.98 / 6.950 = 31.1 (2022), 205.08 / 5.995 = 34.2 (2023), 198.99 / 6.335 = 31.4 (2024), 217.70 / 6.704 = 32.5 (2025), trailing 249.58 / 6.967 = 35.8. Segment margins = segment income / segment revenue: Life Sciences Solutions 1,414 / 4,774 = 29.6% (2015), 2,446 / 6,856 = 35.7% (2019), 7,817 / 15,631 = 50.0% (2021), 3,420 / 9,977 = 34.3% (2023), 3,503 / 9,631 = 36.4% (2024); Analytical Instruments 613 / 3,208 = 19.1% (2015), 1,027 / 4,821 = 21.3% (2017), 1,273 / 5,522 = 23.1% (2019), 808 / 5,124 = 15.8% (2020), 1,908 / 7,263 = 26.3% (2023); Specialty Diagnostics 873 / 3,244 = 26.9% (2015), 1,024 / 4,763 = 21.5% (2022); LPBS 922 / 6,372 = 14.5% (2015), 1,271 / 12,245 = 10.4% (2020), 1,844 / 14,862 = 12.4% (2021), 2,872 / 22,511 = 12.8% (2022), 3,358 / 23,041 = 14.6% (2023), 3,090 / 23,157 = 13.3% (2024). Segment shares 2025: Life Sciences Solutions income 3,768 / 10,109 = 37.3%, revenue 10,374 / 46,589 = 22.3%; LPBS external revenue 23,818 / 44,556 = 53.5%. Combined segment margin 10,109 / (44,556 + 2,033) = 10,109 / 46,589 = 21.7%. Segment growth: Life Sciences Solutions 10,374 / 9,631 - 1 = 7.7% (2025), Q2 2026 2,815 / 2,499 - 1 = 12.6%; Specialty Diagnostics 4,676 / 4,512 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 1,205 / 1,134 - 1 = 6.3%; LPBS 23,984 / 23,157 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 6,693 / 5,995 - 1 = 11.6%. Ten-year compound growth 2015-2025: Life Sciences Solutions (10,374 / 4,774)^(1/10) - 1 = 8.1%; Specialty Diagnostics (4,676 / 3,244)^(1/10) - 1 = 3.7%; LPBS (23,984 / 6,372)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.2%. Additional: return on equity 6,704 / ((53,407 + 49,584) / 2) = 13.0% (2025). Instruments share 6,292 / 24,358 = 25.8% (2018), 3,305 / 22,999 = 14.4% (H1 2026). Life Sciences Solutions segment income Q2 1,041 / 919 - 1 = 13.3%. Services share 2,297 / 16,965 = 13.5% (2015), 18,592 / 44,556 = 41.7% (2025). Service gross margin (17,614 - 12,589) / 17,614 = 28.5% (2023), (17,845 - 12,654) / 17,845 = 29.1% (2024); product (25,034 - 12,523) / 25,034 = 50.0% (2024). LPBS growth 23,984 - 23,157 = 827 = 457 + 422 - 118 (laboratory products) + 79 (clinical research) - 13 (eliminations). Eliminations 3,010 / 39,211 = 7.7% (2021). Europe 11,826 / 10,741 - 1 = 10.1%; North America 23,033 / 22,764 - 1 = 1.2% (2023-2025). Headcount 125,000 / 122,000 - 1 = 2.5%. Electron microscopy 2,957 / 2,564 - 1 = 15.3%. Net debt end 2025 39,380 - 9,852 - 253 = 29,275. Goodwill added 54,832 - 45,853 = 8,979 (end 2024 to June 2026). Specialty Diagnostics best annual margin 910 / 3,339 = 27.3% (2016). Intersegment shares 2025: 201 / 7,554 = 2.7%, 72 / 4,676 = 1.5%, 167 / 23,984 = 0.7%. COVID response less testing 2021: 9.23 - 7.26 = 1.97 billion. Buyback gain 675.00 / 482.66 - 1 = 40%. Olink goodwill 2,301 / 3,146 = 73%. Life Sciences acquisitions 1,342 + 1,864 + 3,146 + 3,870 = 10,222; segment revenue 10,374 - 4,774 = 5,600. Instrumentation market (92.53 / 63.4)^(1/6) - 1 = 6.5%. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 4,676 = 38%. LPBS segment income Q2 936 / 825 - 1 = 13.5%. Interest cover 7,746 / 1,419 = 5.5 times. EPS 17.74 / 4.92 = 3.6 times. One-point price cut 7,440 x 1% = 74, / 3,350 = 2.2%. Laboratory products 2,407 - 2,525 = -118. Clinical diagnostics Q2 290 / 276 - 1 = 5.1%. Revenue 44,556 - 32,218 = 12,338 (2020-2025). Healthcare channel 1,764 / 1,712 - 1 = 3.0% (2024). Tax at 11.5% instead of 7.5%: 7,308 x 4% = 292. Microbiology Q2 166 / 159 - 1 = 4.4%. Pharma services 6,685 / 6,806 - 1 = -1.8% (2024). Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 4,676 = 23.8%. Revenue per employee 20,918 / 70,000 = about $299,000 (2017); 25,542 / 75,000 = about $341,000 (2019). Research and safety channel 7,019 / 6,841 - 1 = 2.6% (2024), 7,440 / 7,019 - 1 = 6.0% (2025). Backlog 7,768 / 5,087 - 1 = 52.7% (2019). Restructuring 362 / 7,746 = 4.7%. Laboratory products Q2 608 / 601 - 1 = 1.2%. Services 18,592 / 17,614 - 1 = 5.6%, cost of services 12,913 / 12,589 - 1 = 2.6% (2023-2025). Life Sciences Solutions internal share (9,977 - 8,545) / 9,977 = 14.4% (2023). Biosciences 4,169 / 10,374 = 40.2%. COVID share 6.63 / 32.218 = 20.6% (2020), 9.23 / 39.211 = 23.5% (2021). R&D 1,397 / 1,337 - 1 = 4.5%. Segment income / total assets 10,109 / 110,343 = 9.2%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 - 802 = 110; clinical diagnostics 1,115 - 1,104 = 11. Restructuring 459 / 6,859 = 6.7% (2023). Microbiology 645 / 44,556 = 1.4%. Laboratory products 2,613 / 23,041 = 11.3% (2023), 2,407 / 23,984 = 10.0% (2025). Clario 0.45 x 371.5 = about 167, / 9,098 = 1.8%. LPBS capex / segment income 1,005 / 3,350 = 30%; Life Sciences Solutions 152 / 3,768 = 4.0%. Equity / assets 52,686 / 113,174 = 46.6%. Clinical research 7,915 / 44,556 = 17.8%. Eliminations Q2 565 / 501 - 1 = 12.8%. Instruments 7,301 / 6,292 - 1 = 16.0%. Revenue per employee 18,274 / 55,000 = about $332,000 (2016). Healthcare channel 1,788 / 44,556 = 4.0%. China 2,797 / 32,218 = 8.7% (2020). RPO 29.70 - 27.92 = 1.78 billion - revenue by business: growth and shares. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Thermo Fisher's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, results releases, earnings calls, MarketsandMarkets and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  9. Moat Explorer calcThe research and safety channel added $422 million in 2025 against a company increase of $1,677 million, and grew 8.1% in the second quarter of 2026.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher's reported financial statements, results releases, earnings calls and market data ($ millions unless stated). Revenue by type: consumables + services share (18,664 + 18,592) / 44,556 = 83.6% (2025); (12,576 + 5,490) / 24,358 = 74.2% (2018); (13,109 + 6,046) / 25,542 = 75.0% (2019); (18,527 + 6,912) / 32,218 = 79.0% (2020); (22,608 + 8,850) / 39,211 = 80.2% (2021); (20,624 + 16,367) / 44,915 = 82.4% (2022); (17,597 + 17,614) / 42,857 = 82.2% (2023); (17,587 + 17,845) / 42,879 = 82.6% (2024); H1 2026 (9,794 + 9,899) / 22,999 = 85.6%. Instruments 7,301 / 7,924 - 1 = -7.9% (2022-2025), a fall of 623. Consumables 18,664 / 17,587 - 1 = 6.1%. Services 18,592 / 17,845 - 1 = 4.2%. Gross margin by type 2025: products (25,965 - 13,405) / 25,965 = 48.4%; services (18,592 - 12,913) / 18,592 = 30.5%; total (44,556 - 13,405 - 12,913) / 44,556 = 40.9%. Businesses: BioProduction 2,652 / 2,923 - 1 = -9.3% (2024), 3,200 / 2,652 - 1 = 20.7% (2025), Q2 2026 941 / 745 - 1 = 26.3%. Biosciences 4,169 / 4,238 - 1 = -1.6%. Transplant 492 / 393 - 1 = 25.2%, Q2 134 / 124 - 1 = 8.1%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 / 802 - 1 = 13.7%, Q2 248 / 234 - 1 = 6.0%. Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 1,104 - 1 = 1.0%. Microbiology 645 / 618 - 1 = 4.4% (about 2.2% a year); sale price 1,075 / 645 = 1.7 times; microbiology / Specialty Diagnostics 645 / 4,676 = 13.8%. Research and safety channel 7,440 / 6,841 - 1 = 8.8%, Q2 2,036 / 1,883 - 1 = 8.1%, 7,440 - 6,841 = 599. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 1,712 - 1 = 4.4%, 1,788 / 1,764 - 1 = 1.4% (2025), Q2 442 / 407 - 1 = 8.6%. Laboratory products 2,407 / 2,613 - 1 = -7.9%. Channels (7,440 + 1,788) / 44,556 = 9,228 / 44,556 = 20.7%. Revenue growth: 44,556 / 42,879 - 1 = 3.9% (2025), increase 44,556 - 42,879 = 1,677; 44,556 / 42,857 - 1 = 4.0% (2023-2025); 44,556 / 16,965 = 2.6 times (2015-2025). Research channel share of the increase 422 / 1,677 = 25%. Eliminations / revenue 633 / 16,965 = 3.7% (2015), 2,033 / 44,556 = 4.6% (2025). Life Sciences Solutions sold to other segments 1,593 / 10,374 = 15.4%; external revenue 8,781 / 8,160 - 1 = 7.6%. Pharma services 7,142 / 6,685 - 1 = 6.8%; clinical research 7,915 / 7,836 - 1 = 1.0%; Q2 2026 clinical research 2,396 / 1,955 - 1 = 22.6%. Clinical research + pharma services 7,915 + 7,142 = 15,057, / 44,556 = 33.8% (2025); (7,836 + 6,685) / 42,879 = 33.9% (2024); (7,691 + 6,806) / 42,857 = 33.8% (2023); Q2 2026 2,396 + 1,893 = 4,289, / 11,994 = 35.8%; Q2 2025 1,955 + 1,794 = 3,749. Patheon + PPD + Clario 7,358 + 16,036 + 9,098 = 32,492. Clario price / 2025 revenue 9,098 / 1,500 = 6.1 times; 9,098 / 1,250 = 7.3 times; goodwill 5,934 / 9,098 = 65%. Filtration 3,870 / 750 = 5.2 times. LPBS capital expenditure 1,005 / 1,525 = 65.9%. Revenue per employee 32,218 / 80,000 = about $403,000 (2020); 44,556 / 125,000 = about $356,000 (2025); 356 / 403 - 1 = -12%. Remaining performance obligations 24.61 / 28.30 - 1 = -13.0% (2021-2024); 29.70 / 46.336 = 64% of trailing revenue. 2019 backlog 4,577 / 7,768 = 59%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 44,556 - 21,219 + 22,999 = 46,336; net income 6,704 - 3,124 + 3,387 = 6,967. COVID: Life Sciences Solutions segment income 3,420 / 7,817 - 1 = -56%; testing 0.33 / 7.26 = 4.5% remaining. Tax rate 547 / 7,308 = 7.5% (2025); 657 / 7,037 = 9.3% (2024); 284 / 6,298 = 4.5% (2023). R&D 1,397 / 44,556 = 3.1%. Adjusted less GAAP EPS 22.87 - 17.74 = 5.13. Acquisitions booked since 2021: PPD 16,036 + PeproTech 1,864 + European viral vector 830 + Mesa Biotech 472 + The Binding Site 2,699 + CorEvitas 910 + Olink 3,146 + filtration and separation 3,870 + Clario 9,098 = 38,925. Goodwill and intangibles / total assets (54,832 + 18,606) / 113,174 = 73,438 / 113,174 = 65% (June 2026); (49,362 + 15,838) / 110,343 = 59% (end 2025). Genetic sciences 2,870 / 2,787 - 1 = 3.0%. Analytical Instruments 7,554 / 63,400 = 11.9% of the MarketsandMarkets estimate; revenue 7,463 / 7,263 - 1 = 2.8% (2024), 7,554 / 7,463 - 1 = 1.2% (2025), Q2 1,847 / 1,728 - 1 = 6.9%. Market value against Danaher 249.58 / 157.81 - 1 = 58%. China share of revenue 2,060 / 20,918 = 9.8% (2017), 2,752 / 25,542 = 10.8% (2019), 3,444 / 39,211 = 8.8% (2021), 3,793 / 44,915 = 8.4% (2022). Year-end P/E = market value / net income: 56.61 / 1.975 = 28.7 (2015), 55.74 / 2.022 = 27.6 (2016), 76.14 / 2.225 = 34.2 (2017), 90.09 / 2.938 = 30.7 (2018), 130.27 / 3.696 = 35.2 (2019), 184.61 / 6.375 = 29.0 (2020), 262.92 / 7.725 = 34.0 (2021), 215.98 / 6.950 = 31.1 (2022), 205.08 / 5.995 = 34.2 (2023), 198.99 / 6.335 = 31.4 (2024), 217.70 / 6.704 = 32.5 (2025), trailing 249.58 / 6.967 = 35.8. Segment margins = segment income / segment revenue: Life Sciences Solutions 1,414 / 4,774 = 29.6% (2015), 2,446 / 6,856 = 35.7% (2019), 7,817 / 15,631 = 50.0% (2021), 3,420 / 9,977 = 34.3% (2023), 3,503 / 9,631 = 36.4% (2024); Analytical Instruments 613 / 3,208 = 19.1% (2015), 1,027 / 4,821 = 21.3% (2017), 1,273 / 5,522 = 23.1% (2019), 808 / 5,124 = 15.8% (2020), 1,908 / 7,263 = 26.3% (2023); Specialty Diagnostics 873 / 3,244 = 26.9% (2015), 1,024 / 4,763 = 21.5% (2022); LPBS 922 / 6,372 = 14.5% (2015), 1,271 / 12,245 = 10.4% (2020), 1,844 / 14,862 = 12.4% (2021), 2,872 / 22,511 = 12.8% (2022), 3,358 / 23,041 = 14.6% (2023), 3,090 / 23,157 = 13.3% (2024). Segment shares 2025: Life Sciences Solutions income 3,768 / 10,109 = 37.3%, revenue 10,374 / 46,589 = 22.3%; LPBS external revenue 23,818 / 44,556 = 53.5%. Combined segment margin 10,109 / (44,556 + 2,033) = 10,109 / 46,589 = 21.7%. Segment growth: Life Sciences Solutions 10,374 / 9,631 - 1 = 7.7% (2025), Q2 2026 2,815 / 2,499 - 1 = 12.6%; Specialty Diagnostics 4,676 / 4,512 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 1,205 / 1,134 - 1 = 6.3%; LPBS 23,984 / 23,157 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 6,693 / 5,995 - 1 = 11.6%. Ten-year compound growth 2015-2025: Life Sciences Solutions (10,374 / 4,774)^(1/10) - 1 = 8.1%; Specialty Diagnostics (4,676 / 3,244)^(1/10) - 1 = 3.7%; LPBS (23,984 / 6,372)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.2%. Additional: return on equity 6,704 / ((53,407 + 49,584) / 2) = 13.0% (2025). Instruments share 6,292 / 24,358 = 25.8% (2018), 3,305 / 22,999 = 14.4% (H1 2026). Life Sciences Solutions segment income Q2 1,041 / 919 - 1 = 13.3%. Services share 2,297 / 16,965 = 13.5% (2015), 18,592 / 44,556 = 41.7% (2025). Service gross margin (17,614 - 12,589) / 17,614 = 28.5% (2023), (17,845 - 12,654) / 17,845 = 29.1% (2024); product (25,034 - 12,523) / 25,034 = 50.0% (2024). LPBS growth 23,984 - 23,157 = 827 = 457 + 422 - 118 (laboratory products) + 79 (clinical research) - 13 (eliminations). Eliminations 3,010 / 39,211 = 7.7% (2021). Europe 11,826 / 10,741 - 1 = 10.1%; North America 23,033 / 22,764 - 1 = 1.2% (2023-2025). Headcount 125,000 / 122,000 - 1 = 2.5%. Electron microscopy 2,957 / 2,564 - 1 = 15.3%. Net debt end 2025 39,380 - 9,852 - 253 = 29,275. Goodwill added 54,832 - 45,853 = 8,979 (end 2024 to June 2026). Specialty Diagnostics best annual margin 910 / 3,339 = 27.3% (2016). Intersegment shares 2025: 201 / 7,554 = 2.7%, 72 / 4,676 = 1.5%, 167 / 23,984 = 0.7%. COVID response less testing 2021: 9.23 - 7.26 = 1.97 billion. Buyback gain 675.00 / 482.66 - 1 = 40%. Olink goodwill 2,301 / 3,146 = 73%. Life Sciences acquisitions 1,342 + 1,864 + 3,146 + 3,870 = 10,222; segment revenue 10,374 - 4,774 = 5,600. Instrumentation market (92.53 / 63.4)^(1/6) - 1 = 6.5%. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 4,676 = 38%. LPBS segment income Q2 936 / 825 - 1 = 13.5%. Interest cover 7,746 / 1,419 = 5.5 times. EPS 17.74 / 4.92 = 3.6 times. One-point price cut 7,440 x 1% = 74, / 3,350 = 2.2%. Laboratory products 2,407 - 2,525 = -118. Clinical diagnostics Q2 290 / 276 - 1 = 5.1%. Revenue 44,556 - 32,218 = 12,338 (2020-2025). Healthcare channel 1,764 / 1,712 - 1 = 3.0% (2024). Tax at 11.5% instead of 7.5%: 7,308 x 4% = 292. Microbiology Q2 166 / 159 - 1 = 4.4%. Pharma services 6,685 / 6,806 - 1 = -1.8% (2024). Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 4,676 = 23.8%. Revenue per employee 20,918 / 70,000 = about $299,000 (2017); 25,542 / 75,000 = about $341,000 (2019). Research and safety channel 7,019 / 6,841 - 1 = 2.6% (2024), 7,440 / 7,019 - 1 = 6.0% (2025). Backlog 7,768 / 5,087 - 1 = 52.7% (2019). Restructuring 362 / 7,746 = 4.7%. Laboratory products Q2 608 / 601 - 1 = 1.2%. Services 18,592 / 17,614 - 1 = 5.6%, cost of services 12,913 / 12,589 - 1 = 2.6% (2023-2025). Life Sciences Solutions internal share (9,977 - 8,545) / 9,977 = 14.4% (2023). Biosciences 4,169 / 10,374 = 40.2%. COVID share 6.63 / 32.218 = 20.6% (2020), 9.23 / 39.211 = 23.5% (2021). R&D 1,397 / 1,337 - 1 = 4.5%. Segment income / total assets 10,109 / 110,343 = 9.2%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 - 802 = 110; clinical diagnostics 1,115 - 1,104 = 11. Restructuring 459 / 6,859 = 6.7% (2023). Microbiology 645 / 44,556 = 1.4%. Laboratory products 2,613 / 23,041 = 11.3% (2023), 2,407 / 23,984 = 10.0% (2025). Clario 0.45 x 371.5 = about 167, / 9,098 = 1.8%. LPBS capex / segment income 1,005 / 3,350 = 30%; Life Sciences Solutions 152 / 3,768 = 4.0%. Equity / assets 52,686 / 113,174 = 46.6%. Clinical research 7,915 / 44,556 = 17.8%. Eliminations Q2 565 / 501 - 1 = 12.8%. Instruments 7,301 / 6,292 - 1 = 16.0%. Revenue per employee 18,274 / 55,000 = about $332,000 (2016). Healthcare channel 1,788 / 44,556 = 4.0%. China 2,797 / 32,218 = 8.7% (2020). RPO 29.70 - 27.92 = 1.78 billion - revenue by business: growth and shares. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Thermo Fisher's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, results releases, earnings calls, MarketsandMarkets and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  10. ReportedThe limits are that a catalogue can be copied, and that the 10-K counts third-party distributors among its competitors.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - Item 1A risk factors and competition. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  11. ReportedAdjusted selling, general and administrative expense was 15.6% of revenue in the second quarter of 2026, a cost that includes the sales force and logistics behind the catalogue.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific second-quarter 2026 earnings call transcript (Motley Fool) - organic growth by segment and market, China, the raised 2026 guidance, leverage, adjusted ROIC and the microbiology sale. Figures from the transcript body, not the summary block - 2026 guidance, capital deployment, leverage and adjusted ROIC. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  12. ReportedSpread over $11,994 million of quarterly revenue, that is the price of being on every bench.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific second-quarter 2026 results, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - revenue, organic growth, segment income and margins, free cash flow and the balance sheet. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  13. ReportedThe research and safety market channel alone had revenue of $7,440 million in 2025, almost as much as the whole Analytical Instruments segment at $7,554 million.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - revenue by business. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  14. ReportedThe research and safety channel's quarterly revenue, $2,036 million in the latest quarter, is the number.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 27 June 2026 - revenue by business and by type, the Clario purchase price, the microbiology sale, share repurchases, dividends and the balance sheet. — Q2 2026 · publ. 31 July 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026