Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Grows Stock Position in Waters Corporation $WAT

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) by 185.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,286 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,486 shares during the period. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Waters were worth $857,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Waters by 25.4% during the first quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 138,423 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $41,222,000 after acquiring an additional 28,074 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise lifted its holdings in shares of Waters by 329.0% in the 4th quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 4,294 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,631,000 after acquiring an additional 3,293 shares during the last quarter. Dudley & Shanley Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Waters by 101.3% in the 2nd quarter. Dudley & Shanley Inc. now owns 23,590 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $8,847,000 after acquiring an additional 11,870 shares during the last quarter. Ramsay Stattman Vela & Price Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Waters during the 1st quarter worth approximately $942,000. Finally, Hahn Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Waters in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,490,000. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Waters Stock Performance

Shares of WAT stock opened at $414.55 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $387.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $348.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.73 billion, a PE ratio of 103.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Waters Corporation has a 52 week low of $282.77 and a 52 week high of $426.22.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.01 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.62 billion. Waters had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 3.58%.The company’s revenue was up 113.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior 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, research analysts predict that Waters Corporation will post 14.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Waters news, Director Christopher A. Kuebler sold 3,626 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $397.94, for a total transaction of $1,442,930.44. Following the sale, the director owned 17,808 shares in the company, valued at $7,086,515.52. This represents a 16.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $440.00 target price on shares of Waters in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. Wall Street Zen raised Waters from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “hold” rating and set a $400.00 target price on shares of Waters in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $424.35.

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.