Waters Corp
WAT
$304.24
+1.45%
Waters Corp is a leading provider of analytical instruments, including liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry systems, within the medical diagnostics and research industry. The company is defined by its recent merger with BD's life science and diagnostics business, which strengthens its position in the diagnostics and life science tools market.…
WAT
Waters Corp
$304.24
WAT 12-Month Price Forecast
Wall Street consensus
Most Wall Street analysts maintain a constructive view on Waters Corp's 12-month outlook, with a consensus price target around $395.51 and implied upside of +30.0% versus the current price.
Average Target
$395.51
6 analysts
Implied Upside
+30.0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
6
covering this stock
Price Range
$243 - $396
Analyst target range
Analyst data provides estimates for future performance but does not include a consensus target price or ratings distribution. Six analysts provide estimates, with an average EPS forecast of $21.30 and an average revenue forecast of $8.35 billion. Recent institutional ratings from firms like Deutsche Bank (Hold), Morgan Stanley (Equal Weight), and Guggenheim (Buy) indicate a mixed but generally neutral to positive outlook. No sufficient analyst coverage data for a consolidated target price is available in the provided inputs.
WAT Technical Analysis
The stock has experienced significant volatility and a pronounced downtrend over the past six months. From a peak near $414 in late November 2025, the price has fallen sharply to a current level of $297.8, representing a 6-month decline of 7.5%. Short-term performance has been particularly weak, with the stock down 21.6% over the last three months and 6.8% over the past month, significantly underperforming the broader market as indicated by negative relative strength figures. The current price of $297.8 sits near the lower end of its 52-week range of $275.05 to $414.15, approximately 28% below the high. This positioning suggests the stock is in a corrective phase, having given back most of its gains from late 2025. The price action shows a clear breakdown from the $380-$400 support zone in February 2026, leading to the current lower trading range. No specific technical indicators like RSI were provided in the key metrics for the current date. The data shows a beta of 1.2, indicating the stock has been more volatile than the market, which aligns with the observed price swings. The recent price change of +1.51% from the previous close offers a minor reprieve within the broader downtrend.
Beta
1.20
1.20x market volatility
Max Drawdown
-31.3%
Largest decline past year
52-Week Range
$275-$414
Price range past year
Annual Return
-16.1%
Cumulative gain past year
| Period | WAT Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -2.5% | -3.6% |
| 3m | -20.3% | -4.0% |
| 6m | -7.4% | -2.0% |
| 1y | -16.1% | +16.2% |
| ytd | -20.3% | -3.8% |
Bobby - Your AI Investment Partner
Get real-time data, AI-driven personalized investment analysis to make smarter investment decisions
WAT Fundamental Analysis
Revenue and profitability show mixed signals. Quarterly revenue for Q4 2025 was $932.4 million, representing a year-over-year growth of 6.8%. However, net income for the same quarter was $225.2 million, resulting in a net margin of 24.2%, which is a decline from the 26.5% net margin in Q4 2024. The trailing twelve-month free cash flow is a healthy $539.8 million. Financial health appears stable. The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.55, indicating a moderate level of debt financing. The company generates substantial operating cash flow, as evidenced by the quarterly figures, which supports its ability to service debt and invest in operations. The current ratio data is inconsistent in the provided inputs, with key metrics showing 0, while historical ratios show figures above 1.5, suggesting potential data discrepancies. Operational efficiency metrics are strong. Return on Equity (ROE) is 25.1% and Return on Assets (ROA) is 11.5%, both indicating effective use of shareholder capital and company assets. The gross margin remains robust at 57.8%, and the operating margin is 28.2%, reflecting solid core business profitability.
Quarterly Revenue
$932362000.0B
2025-12
Revenue YoY Growth
+0.06%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
+0.59%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$539810000.0B
Last 12 Months
Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)
Revenue Breakdown
Open an Account, get $2 TSLA now!
Valuation Analysis: Is WAT Overvalued?
Given that Net Income is positive ($225.2M in the latest quarter), the primary valuation metric used is the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio. The trailing P/E ratio is 35.2, which is elevated. The forward P/E is lower at 18.2, based on analyst EPS estimates, suggesting expectations for significant earnings growth. The Price-to-Sales ratio is 7.1 and the Enterprise Value-to-Sales is 9.5. Peer comparison data (industry averages) was not provided in the valuation inputs, so a direct industry comparison cannot be made. The high trailing P/E suggests the market has historically priced Waters for growth, while the lower forward P/E implies analysts anticipate improved earnings. The Price-to-Book ratio of 8.8 also indicates a premium valuation relative to the company's book value.
PE
35.2x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Mid-Range
5-Year PE Range 22x~50x
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/A*
EV/EBITDA
23.1x
Enterprise Value Multiple

