Waters (NYSE:WAT) Releases FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Waters (NYSE:WAT) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 14.450-14.650 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 14.510. The company issued revenue guidance of $6.4 billion-$6.5 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $6.4 billion. Waters also updated its Q3 2026 guidance to 3.950-4.050 EPS.

Waters Stock Down 1.5%

WAT traded down $5.87 during trading on Thursday, hitting $394.13. The company had a trading volume of 203,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,029,026. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $372.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $345.04. The company has a market capitalization of $38.70 billion, a PE ratio of 98.36, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Waters has a one year low of $275.05 and a one year high of $414.15.

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 the consensus estimate of $3.01 by $0.04. Waters had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 3.58%.The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.62 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.95 earnings per share. Waters’s revenue for the quarter was up 113.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Waters has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.950-4.050 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 14.450-14.650 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Waters will post 14.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Waters from $380.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $420.00 price objective on shares of Waters in a report on Wednesday. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Waters from $425.00 to $460.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on shares of Waters in a report on Thursday, June 11th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $400.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $418.10.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waters

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Waters by 32.3% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,472,419 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $441,446,000 after purchasing an additional 359,596 shares during the last quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP increased its holdings in Waters by 112.3% in 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 last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of Waters by 509.8% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 671,103 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $254,906,000 after purchasing an additional 561,047 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in Waters by 1,611.3% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 581,063 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $220,705,000 after purchasing an additional 547,109 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Waters by 4.3% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 543,149 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $162,842,000 after buying an additional 22,586 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.01% of the company’s stock.

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.