Gain detailed insights into the trading activity of Congress members for Waters on our government trades page. Stay updated on how elected officials are investing in WAT.

Waters - Government Trades

Waters

Water sells liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis tools. These analytical instruments provide essential information on various products, such as their molecular structures and physical properties, to help clients enhance the health and well-being of end users. As a percentage of sales in 2023, Waters generated 57% from biopharmaceutical customers, 31% from industrial clients, and 12% from academic/government institutions.

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Insiders Buying Hilton Worldwide And 2 Other Stocks

pharma lab worker ai

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Waters Corp (NYSE: WAT) reported Q1 2024 sales of $636.8 million, beating analyst consensus. Quarterly rev declined 7%. Adjusted EPS was $2.21, beating Wall Street estimate. Outlook: full-year org constant currency sales growth -0.5% to +1.5%, and Q2 org constant currency sales decline (6)% - (4)%. Stock gained 9% in last 12 months. WAT shares trading higher at $322.12.

Laboratory Instruments Company Waters Corp Projects Steady Growth Amid Global Sales Fluctuations: Details

Genetic,Research,And,Biotech,Science,Concept.,Human,Biology,And,Pharmaceutical

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Mid Cap

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Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our analyst ratings page

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Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) shares are trading higher after the company 

What&#39;s Going On With Laboratory Instrument &amp; Software Company Waters&#39; Shares Today?

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Why Exact Sciences Shares Are Trading Lower By Over 9%? Here Are Other Stocks Moving In Wednesday&#39;s Mid-Day Session

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U.S. stocks traded lower, with the Dow Jones falling around 200 points on Wednesday. Here are some big stocks recording gains in today’s session.

Humana, Waters, e.l.f. Beauty, Teva Pharmaceutical  And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Wednesday

Waters Corp

Energous Corp

WATERMARK LODGING TRUST A by Watermark Lodging Trust Inc.

WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND G by Watches of Switzerland Group PLC

Watches of Switzerland Group PLC

WATER INTELLIGENCE PLC by Water Intelligence PLC

Water Intelligence PLC

WATER OASIS GROUP LTD by Water Oasis Group Ltd.

Water Oasis Group Ltd

WATER TECH INTL by Water Technologies International,Inc.

Water Technologies International Inc

WATER WAYS TECHS INC by WATER WAYS TECHNOLOGIES INC

Water Ways Technologies Inc

WATERPURE INTL INC by WaterPure International, Inc.

WaterPure International Inc

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Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock

Watts Water Technologies Inc

Evercore ISI Group analyst Vijay Kumar maintains Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) with a In-Line and lowers the price target from $320 to $300.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains In-Line on Waters, Lowers Price Target to $300

Across the recent three months, 6 analysts have shared their insights on Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $318.67, a high estimate of $358.00, and a low estimate of $275.00. Experiencing a 0.1% decline, the current average is now lower than the previous average price target of $319.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1719597615_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive Waters. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Luke Sergott</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$295.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Luke Sergott</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$295.00</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dan Brennan</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$358.00</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Arias</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$332.00</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Catherine Ramsey</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$312.00</td>
<td>$319.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vijay Kumar</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Waters. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Waters compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for Waters's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Waters's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WAT/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Waters analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Waters</h2>
Water sells liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis tools. These analytical instruments provide essential information on various products, such as their molecular structures and physical properties, to help clients enhance the health and well-being of end users. As a percentage of sales in 2023, Waters generated 57% from biopharmaceutical customers, 31% from industrial clients, and 12% from academic/government institutions.
<h3>Waters: Delving into Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Negative Revenue Trend: Examining Waters's financials over 3 months reveals challenges. As of 31 March, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -22.29% in revenue growth, reflecting a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Net Margin: Waters's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 16.05%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Waters's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 8.49%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Waters's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 2.24%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Waters's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 1.64, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Ratings For Waters

Barclays analyst Luke Sergott maintains Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $295 to $275.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Waters, Lowers Price Target to $275

Although U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday, there were a few notable insider trades.
When insiders purchase shares, it indicates their confidence in the company&#8217;s prospects or that they view the stock as a bargain. Either way, this signals an opportunity to go long on the stock. Insider purchases should not be taken as the only indicator for making an investment or trading decision. At best, it can lend conviction to a buying decision.
Below is a look at a few recent notable insider purchases. For more, check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">Benzinga&#8217;s insider transactions</a> platform.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Privia Health Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Privia Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRVA#NASDAQ">PRVA</a>) Director Adam Boehler <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PRVA/analyst-ratings">acquired a total of 4,280 shares</a> at an average price of $16.49. To acquire these shares, it cost around $70,577.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On May 20, Barclays analyst Andrew Mok maintained Privia Health with an Equal-Weight and lowered the price target from $22 to $19.</li>
<li>What Privia Health Group Does: Privia Health Group Inc is a technology-driven, national physician-enablement company.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hilton Worldwide</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HLT#NYSE">HLT</a>) Director Melanie Healey acquired a total of 2,000 shares at an average price of $199.65. To acquire these shares, it cost around $399,299.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On April 24, Hilton Worldwide reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results and raised FY24 adjusted EPS guidance.</li>
<li>What Hilton Worldwide Does: Hilton Worldwide Holdings operates nearly 1.2 million rooms across its more than 20 brands serving the premium economy scale through luxury segments.</li>
</ul>
Don&#8217;t forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Waters Corporation</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Waters Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) Director Richard H Fearon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">bought a total of 1,000 shares</a> at an average price of $332.90. To acquire these shares, it cost around $332,900.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On May 7, Waters Corp reported fiscal first-quarter 2024 sales of $636.8 million, beating the analyst consensus of $635.6 million.</li>
<li>What Waters Corporation Does: Water sells liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis tools.</li>
</ul>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/05/39061580/top-3-tech-and-telecom-stocks-that-could-blast-off-this-quarter">Top 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks That Could Blast Off This Quarter</a>

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GERN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$3.50</td>
<td>$350.0K</td>
<td>833</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ZTS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$45.5K</td>
<td>289</td>
<td>791</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ITOS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$66.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>501</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BMY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$63.9K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
<td>461</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$29.2K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$100.8K</td>
<td>769</td>
<td>227</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TMO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/28/24</td>
<td>$590.00</td>
<td>$92.3K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>170</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DHR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$60.6K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>146</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LLY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$760.00</td>
<td>$1.1 million</td>
<td>263</td>
<td>107</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding GERN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GERN#NASDAQ">GERN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 115 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 5000 contract(s) at a $3.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $350.0K, with a price of $70.0 per contract. There were 833 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5000 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ZTS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZTS#NYSE">ZTS</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 52 day(s) on July 19, 2024. Parties traded 138 contract(s) at a $165.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.5K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 289 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 791 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ITOS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOS#NASDAQ">ITOS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 143 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 330 contract(s) at a $25.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $66.0K, with a price of $200.0 per contract. There were 2000 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 501 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BMY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 598 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 385 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $63.9K, with a price of $166.0 per contract. There were 9174 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 461 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MRK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 234 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 130 contract(s) at a $145.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.2K, with a price of $225.0 per contract. There were 1709 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 233 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 171 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 284 contract(s) at a $52.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $100.8K, with a price of $355.0 per contract. There were 769 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 227 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TMO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on June 28, 2024. Parties traded 170 contract(s) at a $590.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $92.3K, with a price of $543.0 per contract. There were 1 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 170 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DHR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 234 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 37 contract(s) at a $270.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $60.6K, with a price of $1640.0 per contract. There were 1079 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 146 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 234 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $760.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.1 million, with a price of $11510.0 per contract. There were 263 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 107 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WAT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 24 day(s) on June 21, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $320.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $430.0 per contract. There were 32 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

GERN

ITOS

10 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Barclays analyst Luke Sergott maintains Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $300 to $295.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Waters, Lowers Price Target to $295

TD Cowen analyst Dan Brennan maintains Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $350 to $358.

TD Cowen Maintains Hold on Waters, Raises Price Target to $358

Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) underwent analysis by 4 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $321.0, a high estimate of $340.00, and a low estimate of $300.00. Observing a 3.22% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $311.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1715176842_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
The standing of Waters among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Arias</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$332.00</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Catherine Ramsey</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$312.00</td>
<td>$319.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vijay Kumar</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Luke Sergott</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Waters. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Waters compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Waters's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Waters's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WAT/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Waters analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Waters Better</h2>
Water sells liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis tools. These analytical instruments provide essential information on various products, such as their molecular structures and physical properties, to help clients enhance the health and well-being of end users. As a percentage of sales in 2022, Waters generated 59% from pharmaceutical customers, 31% from industrial clients, and 10% from academic/government institutions.
<h3>Waters: A Financial Overview</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company exhibits a lower market capitalization profile, positioning itself below industry averages. This suggests a smaller scale relative to peers.
Negative Revenue Trend: Examining Waters's financials over 3 months reveals challenges. As of 31 December, 2023, the company experienced a decline of approximately -4.55% in revenue growth, reflecting a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Health Care sector.
Net Margin: Waters's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 26.38%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 21.03%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Waters's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 4.74%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, Waters faces challenges in effectively managing its debt levels, indicating potential financial strain.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Assessing Waters: Insights From 4 Financial Analysts

Stifel analyst Daniel Arias maintains Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $330 to $332.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Waters, Raises Price Target to $332

Baird analyst Catherine Ramsey maintains Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $319 to $312.

Baird Maintains Neutral on Waters, Lowers Price Target to $312

Waters Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) reported fiscal first-quarter 2024 sales of $636.8 million, beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/05/n38663786/waters-corporation-nyse-wat-reports-first-quarter-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of $635.6 million</a>.
Quarterly revenues declined 7%, as reported,&nbsp;and 9% in organic constant currency.
The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.21,&nbsp;beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street estimate of $2.10</a>.
Gross margin expanded 40 basis points, and adjusted operating margin extended 20 basis points in the quarter under review.
Geographically, sales in Asia&nbsp;during the quarter&nbsp;decreased by 18%, as reported, and 16% in organic constant currency.&nbsp;
Sales in the Americas declined by 2%&nbsp;as reported, and 8% in organic constant currency.&nbsp;
Sales in Europe increased by 2%, as reported,&nbsp;and decreased by 3% in organic constant currency.
CEO Dr.&nbsp;Udit Batra said, &#8220;The margin expansion we delivered reflects the strength of our operational performance, especially when considering current volume and foreign exchange headwinds.&#8221;
Dr. Batra continued, &#8220;With our steady stream of innovative new products and focus on higher growth areas, we are well-positioned in our attractive end-markets.&#8221;
Outlook:&nbsp;Waters Corp reiterated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/02/36963241/waters-q4-earnings-beats-estimates-ceo-touts-strong-execution-in-tough-market-conditions" rel="noreferrer noopener">full-year 2024</a>&nbsp;organic constant currency sales growth&nbsp;to be&nbsp;-0.5%&nbsp;to&nbsp;+1.5%.
The company maintained reported sales growth of 0%&nbsp;to&nbsp;+2% or sales of $2.96 billion&nbsp;&#8211; $3.02&nbsp;billion (versus consensus of $2.98 billion) with adjusted EPS of $11.75 &#8211; $12.05&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">(estimate: $11.89</a>).
Waters Corp projects second-quarter organic constant currency sales growth of (6)% &#8211; (4)%. For the first quarter, the company projects reported sales growth of (6.5)% to &#8211; (4.5)% or $692.44 million &#8211; $707.25 million (versus consensus of $728.84 million), with adjusted EPS of $2.50 &#8211; $2.60 (estimate: $2.77).
The analytical laboratory instrument and software company, Waters Corp,&nbsp;stock&nbsp;gained close to 10% in the last 12 months.&nbsp;
Price Action: WAT shares are trading higher by 1.88% to $325.59 at the last check Tuesday.
Illustration of Phrama lab worker created with MidJourney

Full-Year 2024 Financial&nbsp;Guidance
The Company continues to expect full-year 2024 organic constant currency sales growth to be in the range of&nbsp;-0.5%&nbsp;to&nbsp;+1.5%. Currency translation is expected to decrease full-year sales growth by slightly less than&nbsp;1%. M&amp;A contribution from the Wyatt transaction covering the first four-and-a-half months of the year is expected to increase full-year reported sales growth by slightly over&nbsp;1%. The resulting full-year 2024 reported sales growth is expected in the range of&nbsp;0.0%&nbsp;to&nbsp;+2.0%.
The Company expects full-year 2024 non-GAAP EPS to be in the range of&nbsp;$11.75&nbsp;to&nbsp;$12.05, which includes an estimated headwind of approximately&nbsp;2%&nbsp;due to unfavorable foreign exchange.

Waters Corp Reiterated FY24 Revenue Growth of 0.0%-2.0% YoY Vs $2.98B Est, Adj EPS of $11.75-$12.05 Vs $11.89 Est

Second&nbsp;Quarter 2024 Financial&nbsp;Guidance
The Company expects&nbsp;second&nbsp;quarter&nbsp;2024 organic constant currency sales growth to be in the range of&nbsp;-6.0%&nbsp;to&nbsp;-4.0%. Currency translation is expected to decrease&nbsp;second&nbsp;quarter&nbsp;sales growth by approximately&nbsp;2%. M&amp;A contribution from the Wyatt transaction covering the first-month-and-a-half of the quarter is expected to increase&nbsp;second quarter&nbsp;reported sales growth by approximately&nbsp;1.5%. The resulting&nbsp;second&nbsp;quarter&nbsp;2024 reported sales growth is expected in the range of&nbsp;-6.5%&nbsp;to&nbsp;-4.5%.
The Company expects&nbsp;second&nbsp;quarter&nbsp;2024 non-GAAP EPS to be in the range of&nbsp;$2.50&nbsp;to&nbsp;$2.60, which includes an estimated headwind of approximately&nbsp;4%&nbsp;due to unfavorable foreign exchange.

Waters Corp Expects Q2 Sales Decline of (6.5)%-(4.5)% Vs $728.84M Est, Adj EPS of $2.50-$2.60 Vs $2.77 Est

Waters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $2.21 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.10 by 5.24 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $636.839 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $635.578 million by 0.20 percent. This is a 6.99 percent decrease over sales of $684.674 million the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Waters Q1 2024 Adj EPS $2.21 Beats $2.10 Estimate, Sales $636.839M Beat $635.578M Estimate

WIIM

ILMN

Shares of life sciences tools stocks are trading higher following strong earnings from Danaher.

<ul>
<li>New line of GTxResolve&#x2122; Premier SEC Columns provide higher sensitivity, resolution, and throughput to accelerate the development of cell &amp; gene-based therapeutics.</li>
<li>Reduces problematic non-specific binding, minimizes mobile phase method development challenges, and provides higher throughput separation efficiency.</li>
<li>Increases resolution up to 50% for components present within mRNA, lipid nanoparticles (LNP), and viral vectorsi&nbsp;for more confident measurement of critical quality attributes tied to safety, stability, and potency.</li>
</ul>
MILFORD, Mass., April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --&nbsp;Waters Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAT#NYSE">WAT</a>) today introduced new GTxResolve Premier Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) 1000Å 3-micron (3 µm) Columns. Waters has implemented a unique combination of novel packing materials and MaxPeak&#x2122; Premier High-Performance Surface (HPS) technology into the columns to help scientists accelerate the development of gene-based therapeutics, including cell &amp; gene, mRNA and LNPs.
Waters GTxResolve Premier SEC Columns support the growing demand for mRNA, LNP, and viral-vector-based therapies.
"The pipeline of nucleic acid therapeutics continues to grow at a double-digit paceii as developers strive to submit new investigational drug filings and complete their first in-human trials. The new Waters GTxResolve Premier SEC Columns supports the growing demand for mRNA, lipid nanoparticle, and viral vector-based therapies with columns that are more robust and provide higher efficiency," said Erin Chambers, Vice President, Consumables and Lab Automation, Waters Corporation. "These SEC columns help to standardize measurements needed to fulfill biological license applications, achieve accelerated approvals, and establish effective release testing strategies."
SEC has emerged as an important platform analytical technique, but existing technologies require extensive column conditioning, consume large amounts of sample, and require lengthy run times to resolve impurities, making them an imperfect solution. Waters GTxResolve Premier SEC 1000Å 3 µm Columns address those challenges by providing higher sensitivity, resolution, and throughput by combining novel particle technology with low adsorption MaxPeak Premier HPS Technology. They make it possible for scientists to assess drug safety and efficacy more quickly and expedite the development of gene-based therapeutics and vaccines that are both more efficacious and accessible to patients globally.
"RNA lipid nanoparticles are analytically complex therapeutics. Traditional batch analysis techniques only discern information of the drug product as a whole and fail to detect the subtle difference in particle size populations and corresponding compositional variations therein," said Adam Crowe, Analytical Development Manager, Precision Nanosystems. "SEC analyses afforded by these new column technologies are promising because they have shown separations of LNP populations that can be coupled with online or offline detection. These insights could aid the development of more potent, more stable LNP therapeutics."
GTxResolve Premier SEC Columns are engineered to reduce problematic non-specific binding, minimize mobile phase method development challenges, and provide higher throughput separation efficiency. They offer up to 50% increases in resolution for components present within mRNA, LNPs, and viral vector samples. They offer low out-of-the-box secondary interactionsi, iii,&nbsp;iv, enabling robust multi-attribute platform methods and more than 2x improvements in sample consumption, run times, and sensitivity versus existing 5 and 10 µm HPLC columns.v&nbsp; &nbsp;
Waters GTxResolve Premier SEC 1000Å 3 µm Columns are now available globally, alongside Waters previously released GTxResolve Premier BEH&nbsp;SEC 450Å 2.5 µm Columns. These column technologies are quality control batch-tested with an industry-first use of both protein and nucleic acid test mixtures to ensure new levels of separation reproducibility.

Waters Accelerates The Development Of Gene-based Therapeutics With New GTxResolve Premier SEC Columns

<ul>
<li>New Alliance&trade; iS Bio High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) System helps biopharmaceutical QC laboratories boost efficiency and eliminate up to&nbsp;40%&nbsp;of common errorsi.</li>
<li>Featuring MaxPeak&trade; High Performance Surface (HPS) Technology, the new system minimizes unwanted analyte interactions to increase resolution and sensitivity while reducing peak tailing for metal-sensitive analytes.</li>
<li>Next-generation system delivers a new level of simplicity and instrument intelligence to biologics QC analyses, helping laboratories meet quality, compliance, and on-time product delivery goals.</li>
</ul>


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