New York, Jan 31, 2026, 15:50 EST — Market closed
Shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc dropped 2.29% to close at $578.61 on Friday, marking a fourth straight day of losses. The Dow slipped 0.48% and the S&P 500 fell 0.43%. Volume hit about 3.7 million shares, well above the typical 2.0 million daily average. The stock ended roughly 10% below its 52-week peak of $643.99, data showed. (MarketWatch)
The drop came after a cautious 2026 outlook, with the company noting that cuts and frozen grants from the Trump era continue to pressure U.S. academic research clients. Thermo Fisher forecast adjusted earnings between $24.22 and $24.80 per share on revenue ranging from $46.3 billion to $47.2 billion. The midpoint sits just below the $24.61 average estimate from analysts, per LSEG data. Bernstein analysts described the 1% to 2% first-quarter growth forecast as soft. (Reuters)
February looms large for Thermo Fisher, which serves drugmakers, biotech labs, and universities—the very sectors that can tighten or loosen budgets on a dime. The stock’s pullback is now seen as a barometer for the pace of research spending rebounding after a year of erratic funding.
CEO Marc Casper told analysts the company is still factoring in caution from academic and government clients: “Our assumption for academic and government embedded in our guidance is similar conditions to last year.” He noted that a finalized budget for the National Institutes of Health might provide a boost, though the timing is unclear. CFO Stephen Williamson added that management plans to push toward the higher end of its guidance range as the year goes on. (The Motley Fool)
Casper credited its “exceptional team” for a solid end to 2025 in a company statement. Fourth-quarter revenue hit $12.21 billion, marking a 7% increase, while adjusted earnings per share came in at $6.57. The “adjusted” figure excludes acquisition and restructuring expenses. Organic revenue growth, which filters out currency fluctuations and deal impacts, stood at 3%. (Thermo Fisher Investors)
The slide started Thursday, with shares falling 2.61% to close at $592.16 on heavier-than-usual volume. That put the stock roughly 8% shy of its 52-week peak, according to the data. (MarketWatch)
A Form 8-K submitted Thursday outlined the earnings release and accompanying documents, according to the company’s SEC filings page. (Thermo Fisher Investors)
Thermo Fisher aims to complete its acquisition of Clario Holdings, Inc. by mid-2026, subject to regulatory approval and other conditions. The company projects the deal will boost adjusted EPS by roughly $0.45 in the first year post-close. (Thermo Fisher Investors)
Other life-science tools stocks dipped late in the week: Waters Corporation dropped 1.19% on Friday, Danaher slid 0.33%, while Abbott managed a slight gain, market data show. (MarketWatch)
The downside is straightforward: if Washington keeps funding tight or delays drag out, academic and government orders might not bounce back as investors expect. Any hesitation in pharma and biotech spending would show up fast in quarterly results. The planned mid-2026 closing for Clario brings additional execution risk, from securing approvals to the integration process. U.S. markets reopen Monday, Feb. 2, with traders eyeing analyst reactions and fresh clues on federal research budgets.
