
Masimo is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR), acquired in June 2026 for $9.9 billion. Founded in 1989 by Joe Kiani in Irvine, California, Masimo develops pulse oximetry and patient monitoring technology used in hospitals worldwide, with its SET signal extraction technology considered the industry standard for measuring blood oxygen under difficult conditions.
Parent Company
Acquired
2026
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Masimo | Danaher Corporation | Subsidiary |
Joe Kiani founded Masimo in Irvine in 1989 with a technical conviction: existing pulse oximeters produced unreliable readings when patients moved or had poor circulation, precisely the conditions where accurate oxygen measurement mattered most. Masimo's Signal Extraction Technology (SET), introduced in 1995, solved that problem and established the company as the premium standard for pulse oximetry, eventually used in the majority of top-rated US hospitals.
Through the 2000s and 2010s, Masimo expanded from sensors into full patient monitoring: the rainbow platform measured additional parameters beyond oxygen, including hemoglobin and carbon monoxide; wearable devices like the Masimo W1 watch and Radius T continuous monitors extended monitoring outside the hospital; and the Root patient monitoring hub created an open platform for third-party parameters.
The 2010s brought a defining legal victory. Masimo's long patent fight with Apple over watch-based health sensing produced a 2023 ITC import ban on Apple Watch models with blood oxygen features, a rare case of a mid-cap medical company forcing action from the world's largest technology company. Apple disabled the feature on US models rather than remove them from sale.
The later years were turbulent. A 2022 acquisition of Sound United added consumer audio brands including Bowers & Wilkins and Denon, a diversification that investors questioned. Activist Politan Capital launched a proxy fight in 2023 over strategy and governance; Kiani lost board control in 2024 and resigned as CEO in September 2024, replaced by Katie Szyman. The company agreed to sell Sound United to Harman in 2025 and announced the Danaher acquisition in February 2026, completing it June 10, 2026 at $180 per share.
What does Danaher Corporation own?
Danaher owns approximately 15 operating companies across three segments. In Biotechnology, it owns Cytiva and Pall Corporation. In Life Sciences, it owns Leica Microsystems, Molecular Devices, Integrated DNA Technologies, SCIEX, and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. In Diagnostics, it owns Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Cepheid, Radiometer, Leica Biosystems, and Masimo. It also owns environmental and applied solutions brands including Hach and Videojet.
Is Danaher Corporation publicly traded?
Yes. Danaher Corporation is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DHR. The company is a component of the S&P 500 and is owned by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. There is no parent company or controlling shareholder.
Who founded Danaher Corporation?
Danaher was founded in 1969 by brothers Steven M. Rales and Mitchell P. Rales in Washington, D.C. The Rales brothers established the company as a diversified industrial conglomerate and built it into a global life sciences and diagnostics leader through decades of disciplined acquisitions and operational improvement.
Where is Danaher Corporation headquartered?
Danaher is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA. The company's corporate offices are based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with operating companies and manufacturing facilities distributed across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
How many brands does Danaher Corporation own?
Danaher owns approximately 15 operating companies across its three segments. These include well-known brands in life sciences and diagnostics such as Cytiva, Pall, Leica Microsystems, Beckman Coulter, Cepheid, Radiometer, and Masimo. The company also owns environmental and industrial brands including Hach and Videojet.
Who owns Danaher Corporation?
Danaher is an independent publicly traded corporation with no parent company. The company is owned by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders who hold its NYSE-listed common stock. The Rales brothers remain significant shareholders and board members but do not hold a controlling stake. Major institutional holders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation.
What were Danaher's recent financial results?
For FY2025, Danaher reported $24.6 billion in revenue and $3.6 billion in net earnings. In Q2 2026, revenue was $6.3 billion, up 5.5%, with net earnings of $870 million and adjusted EPS of $1.94, up 8.0%. The company raised its 2026 guidance to adjusted EPS of $8.45 to $8.60 and core revenue growth of 3.0% to 4.0%.
Has Danaher made major acquisitions recently?
In June 2026, Danaher completed the acquisition of Masimo Corporation for $9.9 billion, adding pulse oximetry and patient monitoring to its Diagnostics segment. In 2023, Danaher acquired Abcam for approximately $5.7 billion. The largest acquisition in company history was Cytiva (formerly GE Life Sciences) for $21.4 billion in 2016.
Apple Patent Litigation: Masimo's multi-year legal battle against Apple over pulse oximetry patents in the Apple Watch produced a 2023 ITC import ban on certain Apple Watch models and subsequent rulings awarding Masimo damages, while litigation continues over patent and trade secret claims.
Founder Proxy Fight (2023-2024): Activist investor Politan Capital won board control in a contested proxy fight that exposed governance disputes and led to founder Joe Kiani's September 2024 resignation as CEO after 35 years.
Sound United Diversification: The 2022 acquisition of consumer audio brands drew investor criticism for straying from the medical core, contributing to the activist campaign; the business was sold to Harman International in 2025.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danaher | USA | 1935 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Market Positioning: Masimo competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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IBSA Institut Biochimique SA's branded levothyroxine softgel capsule (Tirosint) and liquid solution (Tirosint-SOL), FDA approved for hypothyroidism, formulated without dyes, gluten, lactose, alcohol, or sugar, providing an excipient-free alternative to conventional levothyroxine tablets for patients with sensitivities or absorption issues.
Tirosint is privately owned, unlike Masimo which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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Walgreens is privately owned, unlike Masimo which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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