What Happened To People Who Bought Thermo Fisher Stock At A High?
For questions about this article or underlying research, email help@trefis.com.
Most investors have heard the rule to buy low and never at the top, and it sounds like common sense. Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) stock closed at a 52-week high on November 9, 2026, so by that rule this is the wrong time to buy. Does that rule hold for Thermo Fisher?
Why Thermo Fisher Stock Is At A High
The price-to-earnings multiple, which measures what investors pay for each dollar of profit, went from 32.4 a year ago to 37.5 now. This higher multiple accounts for most of the climb. Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services is the largest of the company’s four segments by revenue. On the fiscal Q3 2026 call, management said that segment’s revenue rose 15%, with very strong growth in its Pharma Services business and strong growth in its clinical research business.
What Happened After Thermo Fisher Stock’s Earlier Highs?
Set the rule aside and ask a different question: what happened to people who bought Thermo Fisher at its earlier highs Between March 2017 and September 2024, counting no more than one high every 126 trading sessions, the stock had nine earlier 52-week highs with a full year after them. Counting the share price alone and before dividends, the stock traded higher a year later following seven of those peaks. Here is each of those highs and what followed:
| 52-week high | Stock a year later | S&P 500, same year | Lowest point in that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2017 | +28.4% | +11.8% | -4.8% |
| Aug 2017 | +30.7% | +18.0% | -0.503% |
| Jul 2018 | +25.3% | +6.3% | -9.1% |
| Feb 2019 | +33.6% | +21.4% | -1.0% |
| Nov 2019 | +56.8% | +16.2% | -16.8% |
| May 2020 | +34.5% | +38.1% | -3.7% |
| Jul 2021 | +6.6% | -10.1% | -5.9% |
| Mar 2024 | -10.9% | +10.0% | -15.3% |
| Sep 2024 | -23.2% | +19.8% | -37.5% |
A 52-week high is a close above every close of the 252 trading sessions before it, counted no more than once every 126 trading sessions. A year later is the close 252 trading sessions after the high. Changes are measured from the close on the day of the high; 0.0% in the last column means the stock did not close below it. Split-adjusted closing prices, dividends excluded.
The middle result was a gain of 28.4% a year later. Buying this stock at a high was not a mistake for most people who bought this stock at a high.
Is A High A Worse Time To Buy?
No. Over the same years, the middle one-year result for buying Thermo Fisher on any trading day, high or not, was a gain of 18.8%. A high has not been a worse time to buy this stock than an ordinary day, and the typical result after a high was better.
What Should A Buyer At A High Expect?
The rule is not foolish, and the worst of the earlier highs shows why. A buyer at the September 2024 high was 23.2% down a year later, and the only other losing year also began at a high in 2024. Typically, a buyer at a Thermo Fisher high saw the stock dip 5.9% below the purchase price at some point in the following year.
Want A Second Look At What You Own?
Thermo Fisher Scientific is one decision in a portfolio. Whether you work with an advisor or manage your money yourself, a second look at the whole portfolio costs nothing. Our partner advisory firm offers a free written review of your holdings, fees and income plan, with no need to switch.
Spot an error or want more like this? Tell us in 10 seconds.