Waters (NYSE:WAT) Sets New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $414.30 and last traded at $413.0950, with a volume of 263751 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $411.77.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on WAT shares. Barclays boosted their price objective on Waters from $425.00 to $460.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Waters from $380.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $420.00 price target on Waters in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. HSBC upped their price objective on Waters from $415.00 to $435.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Waters in a report on Friday, July 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $420.35.

Waters Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $40.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 103.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.19. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $373.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $345.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.01 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion. Waters had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 3.58%.The firm’s revenue was up 113.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.95 earnings per share. Waters has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.950-4.050 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 14.450-14.650 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Waters Corporation will post 14.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Waters

In other Waters news, Director Christopher A. Kuebler sold 3,626 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $397.94, for a total transaction of $1,442,930.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 17,808 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,086,515.52. This trade represents a 16.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waters

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in Waters during the second quarter worth $3,182,191,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Waters during the fourth quarter valued at $265,751,000. Veritas Asset Management LLP grew its holdings in Waters by 112.3% during the 4th quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 1,241,206 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $471,447,000 after acquiring an additional 656,436 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of Waters by 509.8% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 671,103 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $254,906,000 after acquiring an additional 561,047 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in shares of Waters by 1,611.3% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 581,063 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $220,705,000 after purchasing an additional 547,109 shares during the period. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waters Company Profile

Waters Corporation is a global provider of analytical instruments, software and services for laboratory and research applications. The company designs, manufactures and sells technologies centered on liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, separation science, and related sample preparation and detection systems. Its product portfolio includes chromatographs, mass spectrometers, columns and consumables, laboratory informatics and workflow software, as well as technical support and training services that help customers run and interpret complex analyses.

Waters serves a wide range of end markets that include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract research and testing laboratories, academic and government research institutions, clinical diagnostics, food and environmental testing, and industrial and chemical manufacturers.