Tearsheet

Waters (WAT)


Market Price (12/28/2025): $386.79 | Market Cap: $23.0 Bil
Sector: Health Care | Industry: Life Sciences Tools & Services

Waters (WAT)


Market Price (12/28/2025): $386.79
Market Cap: $23.0 Bil
Sector: Health Care
Industry: Life Sciences Tools & Services

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.


0 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 27%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -29%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -68%
Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 27x, P/CFOPrice/(Cash Flow from Operations). CFO is cash before capital expenditures. is 32x, P/EPrice/Earnings or Price/(Net Income) is 35x
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 23%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%
  Key risks
WAT key risks include [1] substantial execution and integration challenges stemming from its large-scale acquisition of BD's Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions unit.
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 36%
  
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Precision Medicine, Biotechnology & Genomics, and Water Infrastructure. Themes include Biopharmaceutical R&D, Show more.
  
0 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 27%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 23%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 36%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Precision Medicine, Biotechnology & Genomics, and Water Infrastructure. Themes include Biopharmaceutical R&D, Show more.
4 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -29%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -68%
5 Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 27x, P/CFOPrice/(Cash Flow from Operations). CFO is cash before capital expenditures. is 32x, P/EPrice/Earnings or Price/(Net Income) is 35x
6 Key risks
WAT key risks include [1] substantial execution and integration challenges stemming from its large-scale acquisition of BD's Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions unit.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

WAT Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

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The period from August 31, 2025, to December 28, 2025, includes future dates. While Waters Corporation (WAT) has announced its third-quarter 2025 financial results on November 4, 2025, reporting sales of $800 million and non-GAAP EPS of $3.40, and analysts have provided recommendations as of December 28, 2025, detailed real-time stock movement data for the entire specified future period, including a precise 27.9% change, and the specific causal events for such a movement, are not available.

However, based on available information for parts of this period and broader market sentiment, potential key points influencing Waters' stock performance in late 2025 could include:

<br><br><b>1. Strong Third Quarter 2025 Financial Performance:</b> Waters Corporation reported third-quarter 2025 sales of $800 million, exceeding guidance with an 8% growth as reported and in constant currency. Non-GAAP EPS grew 16% to $3.40, surpassing guidance. Instrument sales grew 6% in constant currency, driven by high single-digit growth in LC & MS, and the TA Division returning to positive growth. Recurring revenue also showed strong growth.

<br><br><b>2. Raised Full-Year 2025 Financial Guidance:</b> Following the strong third-quarter results, the company raised its full-year 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance to a range of $13.05 to $13.15, reflecting approximately 10% to 11% year-over-year growth. This revised outlook could have positively influenced investor confidence.

<br><br><b>3. Analyst Consensus and Price Targets:</b> As of December 28, 2025, Waters Corporation has received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from nineteen analysts, with an average 12-month price objective of $392.1875. Several research analysts have recently reiterated or upgraded their ratings and price targets, indicating positive sentiment.

<br><br><b>4. Institutional Ownership and Trading:</b> Approximately 94.01% of Waters' shares are held by hedge funds and other institutions, with notable recent purchases by firms such as JPMorgan Chase. Significant institutional interest can contribute to stock stability and upward movement.

<br><br><b>5. Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions:</b> Waters Corporation announced a definitive agreement to merge with the Biosciences & Diagnostics business of BD, targeting $345 million in synergies by 2030. This strategic move is anticipated to diversify Waters' portfolio with more concentration in diagnostics and discovery-related life science tools, potentially driving long-term growth and market excitement, despite an initial 12.8% fall in stock on the day of the announcement in July 2025.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Fundamental Drivers

The 32.3% change in WAT stock from 9/27/2025 to 12/27/2025 was primarily driven by a 34.9% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
927202512272025Change
Stock Price ($)291.71386.0632.34%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)3046.063105.641.96%
Net Income Margin (%)21.71%20.89%-3.78%
P/E Multiple26.2535.4234.94%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)59.5259.53-0.02%
Cumulative Contribution32.34%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

9/27/2025 to 12/27/2025
ReturnCorrelation
WAT32.3% 
Market (SPY)4.3%23.6%
Sector (XLV)15.2%63.4%

Fundamental Drivers

The 9.5% change in WAT stock from 6/28/2025 to 12/27/2025 was primarily driven by a 11.1% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
628202512272025Change
Stock Price ($)352.41386.069.55%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2983.253105.644.10%
Net Income Margin (%)22.02%20.89%-5.14%
P/E Multiple31.8835.4211.10%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)59.4459.53-0.15%
Cumulative Contribution9.55%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

6/28/2025 to 12/27/2025
ReturnCorrelation
WAT9.5% 
Market (SPY)12.6%21.7%
Sector (XLV)17.0%52.4%

Fundamental Drivers

The 3.1% change in WAT stock from 12/27/2024 to 12/27/2025 was primarily driven by a 6.9% change in the company's Total Revenues ($ Mil).
1227202412272025Change
Stock Price ($)374.60386.063.06%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2905.153105.646.90%
Net Income Margin (%)21.43%20.89%-2.52%
P/E Multiple35.7235.42-0.83%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)59.3759.53-0.27%
Cumulative Contribution3.06%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

12/27/2024 to 12/27/2025
ReturnCorrelation
WAT3.1% 
Market (SPY)17.0%51.4%
Sector (XLV)13.8%64.7%

Fundamental Drivers

The 13.3% change in WAT stock from 12/28/2022 to 12/27/2025 was primarily driven by a 21.2% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
1228202212272025Change
Stock Price ($)340.71386.0613.31%
Change Contribution ByLTMLTM
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2949.893105.645.28%
Net Income Margin (%)23.63%20.89%-11.57%
P/E Multiple29.2335.4221.16%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)59.8059.530.46%
Cumulative Contribution13.31%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

12/28/2023 to 12/27/2025
ReturnCorrelation
WAT16.0% 
Market (SPY)48.0%45.4%
Sector (XLV)17.9%57.0%

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
WAT Return6%51%-8%-4%13%4%65%
Peers Return16%38%-12%21%26%16%150%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%18%114%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
WAT Win Rate58%83%42%42%50%42% 
Peers Win Rate52%65%42%68%57%52% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
WAT Max Drawdown-31%0%-28%-31%-14%-25% 
Peers Max Drawdown-34%-5%-26%-7%-9%-23% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: HPQ, HPE, IBM, CSCO, AAPL. See WAT Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/26/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventWATS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-44.3%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven79.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-33.5%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven50.3%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven267 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-21.2%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven26.8%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven582 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-61.9%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven162.7%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven708 days1,480 days

Compare to HPQ, HPE, IBM, CSCO, AAPL

In The Past

Waters's stock fell -44.3% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 9/8/2021. A -44.3% loss requires a 79.4% gain to breakeven.

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About Waters (WAT)

Waters Corporation, a specialty measurement company, provides analytical workflow solutions in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. It operates through two segments, Waters and TA. The company designs, manufactures, sells, and services high and ultra-performance liquid chromatography, as well as mass spectrometry (MS) technology systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products, and post-warranty service plans. It also designs, manufactures, sells, and services thermal analysis, rheometry, and calorimetry instruments; and develops and supplies software-based products that interface with its instruments, as well as other manufacturers' instruments. Its MS technology instruments are used in drug discovery and development comprising clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease processes, nutritional safety analysis, and environmental testing. The company offers thermal analysis, rheometry, and calorimetry instruments for use in predicting the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals, and viscous liquids for various industrial, consumer good, and healthcare products, as well as for life science research. Its products are used by life science, pharmaceutical, biochemical, industrial, nutritional safety, environmental, academic, and governmental customers working in research and development, quality assurance, and other laboratory applications. Waters Corporation was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts.

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Here are 1-3 brief analogies to describe Waters (WAT):

  • Like a more focused Thermo Fisher Scientific, specializing in advanced analytical laboratory instruments.
  • Similar to Agilent Technologies, providing high-precision scientific instruments for chemical and biological analysis.

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  • Liquid Chromatography (LC) Systems: Instruments used to separate, identify, and quantify components in a complex mixture, widely applied in various scientific fields.
  • Mass Spectrometry (MS) Systems: Instruments that measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to identify and quantify molecules with high sensitivity and specificity.
  • Chemistry Consumables: Products such as chromatography columns, sample preparation products, and vials essential for the operation and success of LC and MS analyses.
  • Software Solutions: Comprehensive software packages designed for instrument control, data acquisition, data processing, and laboratory information management.
  • Aftermarket Services and Support: A range of services including installation, training, preventive maintenance, repair, and technical support for their analytical instruments and software.
```

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Waters Corporation (WAT) sells primarily to other companies and institutions, rather than directly to individuals.

Due to the highly diversified nature of its global customer base, Waters Corporation does not typically disclose or rely on individual "major customer companies" that account for a significant portion of its revenue. As stated in its financial filings, no single customer accounts for more than 10% of its consolidated net sales. Instead, Waters serves a broad array of customers across several key industries and research sectors.

The primary categories of customers that utilize Waters' advanced analytical instruments, software, and services include:

  • Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies: This represents a significant portion of Waters' customer base. These companies, ranging from large multinational pharmaceutical corporations to smaller biotechnology firms, rely on Waters' solutions for critical applications in drug discovery, development, quality control, and manufacturing processes. These applications include impurity analysis, formulation development, and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) analysis.
  • Academic, Government, and Research Institutions: Universities, government laboratories (such as those associated with the FDA, EPA, NIH, or CDC), and other non-profit research organizations are key customers. They use Waters' instrumentation for fundamental scientific research, method development, and various regulatory testing and monitoring programs.
  • Food, Environmental, and Chemical Industries: This broad category encompasses a diverse group of companies and laboratories. Customers here use Waters' products for applications such as food safety and quality testing (e.g., contaminant detection, nutritional analysis), environmental monitoring (e.g., water quality, soil analysis, air pollution), and quality control and research in specialty chemical and materials science applications.

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Dr. Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Udit Batra has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation since September 2020. He brings over two decades of leadership and operational expertise in the healthcare and life sciences industries, demonstrating a proven track record of leading multi-billion-dollar global organizations. Prior to joining Waters, Dr. Batra was the CEO of MilliporeSigma, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, from 2014, and joined its Executive Board in 2016. In this role, he successfully led the integration of Sigma-Aldrich following its acquisition in 2015. Before that, he was President and CEO of Merck KGaA's global Consumer Health business, where he significantly increased profitability. Earlier in his career, Dr. Batra held various leadership positions at Novartis, including Global Head of Corporate Strategy, Global Public Health and Market Access for Vaccines and Diagnostics, and President of the Australia Pharma business, which achieved the fastest growth among competitors under his leadership. He began his career as a research engineer at Merck Research Labs. Dr. Batra earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware.

Amol Chaubal, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Amol Chaubal was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Waters Corporation in May 2021, overseeing all aspects of the Finance and Information Technology organizations. Before joining Waters, Mr. Chaubal served as CFO at Quanterix from 2019, where he contributed to strong shareholder value creation. From 2017 to 2019, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Global Operations at Smith & Nephew. His experience also includes serving as Corporate Vice President and Head of Finance for PAREXEL's Clinical Research Services and Access businesses from 2015 to 2017. Between 2013 and 2015, Mr. Chaubal was the North America CFO and later Regional Chief Operating Officer at Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, part of Brookfield Asset Management. Prior to Brookfield, he was the CFO North America at Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics and spent 11 years with Novartis in roles of increasing financial responsibility across Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. He started his career at Procter & Gamble. Mr. Chaubal holds an MBA from INSEAD, France, and a Master's in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.

Jianqing Bennett, Senior Vice President, TA Instruments Division and Waters Clinical Business

Jianqing Bennett was named Senior Vice President of the TA Instruments Division in 2021, succeeding Jonathan Pratt, and also leads the Waters Clinical Business. Before her tenure at Waters, Ms. Bennett served as Senior Vice President of High Growth Markets at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, a position she held since 2017.

Christos Ross, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Interim Senior Vice President, Waters Division

Chris Ross was appointed Senior Vice President, Global Operations of Waters Corporation in 2022. In October 2023, he also assumed the role of Interim Senior Vice President of the Waters Division. Prior to joining Waters, Mr. Ross spent 14 years at MilliporeSigma, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, where his most recent roles included Interim Sector Head of Life Science and Head of Integrated Supply Chain Operations.

Dr. Daniel Rush, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Transformation

Dr. Daniel Rush was appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy and Transformation of Waters Corporation in 2021. In this role, he works with the Executive Committee to develop and implement global enterprise strategy, contributes to M&A activities, and leads the Global Research function. Before joining Waters, Dr. Rush was Vice President, Worldwide Commercialization Strategy & Innovation at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), where he spearheaded digital customer model transformation and established a new innovation system across commercial, medical, and market access functions. He also spent eight years at Novartis in various leadership positions in sales, marketing, and strategy.

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The key risks to Waters Corporation (WAT) are:

  1. Execution and Integration Risks from the BD Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions Acquisition: Waters Corporation's recent $17.5 billion merger with the Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions unit of Becton, Dickinson (BDX) presents substantial execution and integration challenges. Analysts have expressed concerns about the sheer size of the deal and the potential for these risks to keep Waters' stock under pressure, despite the strategic rationale. Wells Fargo downgraded Waters due to these execution risks, noting that while Waters' management has a strong reputation, the relative size of the BD assets makes the integration risk higher than usual. Lingering integration risks could also derail the company's margin and earnings trajectory.
  2. Foreign Exchange Rate Fluctuations: As a global business, Waters Corporation is significantly exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. These fluctuations can adversely affect the translation of the company's sales, financial operating results, and the condition of its non-U.S. operations, particularly when a currency weakens against the U.S. dollar. For the full year 2025, management estimated foreign exchange to be an approximate 4% headwind to non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) and anticipated currency translation to decrease full-year sales growth by approximately 2.0%.
  3. Global Economic Conditions and Customer Spending: Waters Corporation's demand for products and services is susceptible to changes in global economic conditions. A decline in capital spending and expenditures by customers, changes in governmental regulations, and funding available to governmental, academic, and research institutions can all impact sales. Weaker academic and pharmaceutical funding, for example, could negatively affect the company's margin and earnings trajectory. The company has already noted continued caution in public sector spending, as evidenced by lower growth in its Academic & Government segment.

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One clear emerging threat for Waters Corporation is the increasing drive for domestic substitution and self-sufficiency in China's analytical instrument market. The Chinese government is actively promoting and funding local companies to develop high-end analytical instruments, including those for liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers like Waters, threatening their significant market share and growth prospects in a critical global market as domestic players gain capability and preferential treatment.

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Waters Corporation (WAT) primarily operates in the analytical instrumentation market, providing instruments and software for chromatography, mass spectrometry, laboratory informatics, and rheometry to the life, materials, and food sciences industries.

Addressable Market Sizes:

  • Waters Corporation itself estimates the total addressable market for its core portfolio of analytical instruments, chemistry, software, and services to be $12 billion globally, with a mid-single-digit market growth rate.
  • The company is also expanding into faster-growing segments, which it estimates have an additional total addressable market of $7 billion globally, with high-single-digit to double-digit growth.

Broader Market Context:

The global analytical instrumentation market, which encompasses Waters' offerings, was valued at approximately $52.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $88.9 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.77% during 2025-2033. Other estimates place the global market at around $55.00 billion in 2024, expected to grow to $90.48 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 5.79%, or $60 billion in 2024, anticipated to reach $111.4 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 6.5%. North America held a significant share of this market, accounting for approximately 46.95% in 2024.

More specifically, for Waters' key product areas:

  • Chromatography: The global chromatography instruments market was estimated at $9,822.6 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $13,801.3 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.2%. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), a major segment within chromatography and a core Waters product, had a global market size of $4.5 billion in 2020 and was projected to reach $5.7 billion by 2025.
  • Mass Spectrometry: The global mass spectrometry market was estimated at $6.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $10.65 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 7.97%. Another report estimates the global market at $6.33 billion in 2024, reaching $9.62 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 7.2%. North America dominated the global mass spectrometry market with a 41.63% revenue share in 2024.
  • Chromatography Software: The global chromatography software market size was valued at $596.62 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $1,120.77 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 8.20%. North America dominated this market with a 39.8% revenue share in 2024.

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Expected Drivers of Future Revenue Growth for Waters Corporation (WAT)

Waters Corporation (WAT) is anticipated to drive future revenue growth over the next 2-3 years through several key strategies and market dynamics:

  • Continued Innovation and New Product Launches: Waters is heavily focused on introducing innovative products that address unmet market needs, particularly in the bioanalytical and biopharmaceutical sectors. Recent successful launches, such as the Xevoâ„¢ Charge Detection Mass Spectrometer (CDMS) and the Affinity bioseparation columns, along with the Xevo TQ Absolute XR and Alliance iS HPLC system, are expected to be significant contributors. Products launched within the last five years have shown substantial growth, underpinning this driver.
  • Robust Growth in the Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Markets: The pharmaceutical segment remains a primary growth engine for Waters, accounting for a significant portion of its sales. The increasing demand for advanced analytical solutions driven by the growing share of biologics and novel modalities in the pharma pipeline, coupled with an ongoing instrument replacement cycle, is expected to fuel continued expansion in this sector.
  • Strategic Acquisitions and Synergies from BD Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions Combination: Waters is pursuing growth through strategic acquisitions, exemplified by the integration of Halo Labs. Furthermore, the pending combination with BD's Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions business, anticipated around the end of Q1 2026, is a major catalyst. This merger is expected to generate substantial cost and revenue synergies, particularly by expanding Waters' platform and capabilities in high-growth areas like flow cytometry.
  • Growth in Recurring Revenue and Geographic Expansion: The company's recurring revenue, comprising service and precision chemistry products, consistently demonstrates strong growth, supported by price optimization, volume increases, and new chemistry product introductions. Additionally, targeted geographic expansion, with a notable strong performance in the pharmaceutical market in China, is expected to contribute to overall revenue growth.

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Share Repurchases

  • Waters Corporation did not make any open market share repurchases in 2024 or the first half of 2025.
  • In December 2024, the Board of Directors authorized an extension of the existing share repurchase program through January 21, 2028, with $1.0 billion remaining available for repurchases.
  • During the three months ended April 1, 2023, the company repurchased 0.2 million shares for $58 million under its share repurchase program, which was later temporarily suspended to prioritize deleveraging after an acquisition.

Share Issuance

  • Waters issues new shares of common stock primarily upon the exercise of stock options, restricted stock unit conversion, or performance stock unit conversion.
  • Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase plans amounted to $13 million in the first half of 2025 and $22 million in the first half of 2024.
  • For the six months ended July 1, 2023, the company received approximately $8.6 million from stock plans.

Outbound Investments

  • Waters Corporation acquired Wyatt Technology in 2023, which resulted in an increase in its net debt by approximately $1.3 billion.
  • The company is preparing for a strategic business combination with BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business, expected in Q1 2026. This transaction involves the merged entity (SpinCo, which becomes a Waters subsidiary) making a $4.0 billion cash payment to BD.

Capital Expenditures

  • Capital expenditures for property, plant, equipment, and software capitalization were $73.772 million for the first nine months of 2025 and $90.377 million for the first nine months of 2024.
  • The company reported capital expenditures of $176 million in 2022, $161 million in 2021, and $172 million in 2020.
  • A notable portion of capital expenditures, including $32 million in 2022, $49 million in 2021, and $70 million in 2020, was allocated to the major expansion of the company's precision chemistry consumable operations in the United States.

Better Bets than Waters (WAT)

Trade Ideas

Select ideas related to WAT. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CRL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025CRLCharles River Laboratories InternationalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
21.4%21.4%-3.7%
GDRX_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11142025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-7.4%-7.4%-11.8%
ASTH_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025ASTHAstrana HealthDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
18.0%18.0%-5.5%
SGRY_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025SGRYSurgery PartnersDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
3.9%3.9%-1.4%
TFX_11072025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11072025TFXTeleflexDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
12.2%12.2%-5.1%
WAT_9192025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09192025WATWatersMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
28.3%28.3%-4.3%
WAT_5312023_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper05312023WATWatersMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
11.4%22.5%-5.8%
WAT_7312022_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper07312022WATWatersMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-8.5%-24.1%-31.5%
WAT_2292020_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper02292020WATWatersMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
11.6%40.5%-16.7%

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Waters

Peers to compare with:

Financials

WATHPQHPEIBMCSCOAAPLMedian
NameWaters HP Hewlett .Internat.Cisco Sy.Apple  
Mkt Price386.0623.2624.49305.0978.16273.40175.78
Mkt Cap23.021.932.6284.9309.24,074.4158.8
Rev LTM3,10655,29534,29665,40257,696408,62556,496
Op Inc LTM8243,6241,64411,54412,991130,2147,584
FCF LTM6022,80062711,85412,73396,1847,327
FCF 3Y Avg5382,9781,40011,75313,879100,5037,366
CFO LTM7283,6972,91913,48313,744108,5658,590
CFO 3Y Avg6843,6723,89613,49814,736111,5598,697

Growth & Margins

WATHPQHPEIBMCSCOAAPLMedian
NameWaters HP Hewlett .Internat.Cisco Sy.Apple  
Rev Chg LTM6.9%3.2%13.8%4.5%8.9%6.0%6.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg1.8%-3.9%6.5%2.6%3.7%1.8%2.2%
Rev Chg Q8.0%4.2%14.4%9.1%7.5%9.6%8.6%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.0%1.1%3.7%2.1%1.8%2.1%2.0%
Op Mgn LTM26.5%6.6%4.8%17.7%22.5%31.9%20.1%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg27.5%7.4%7.2%16.4%24.2%30.8%20.3%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-1.2%-0.2%-1.4%0.6%0.4%0.1%-0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM23.4%6.7%8.5%20.6%23.8%26.6%22.0%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg22.8%6.8%12.7%21.4%26.1%28.4%22.1%
FCF/Rev LTM19.4%5.1%1.8%18.1%22.1%23.5%18.8%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg17.9%5.5%4.6%18.6%24.6%25.6%18.3%

Valuation

WATHPQHPEIBMCSCOAAPLMedian
NameWaters HP Hewlett .Internat.Cisco Sy.Apple  
Mkt Cap23.021.932.6284.9309.24,074.4158.8
P/S7.40.41.04.45.410.04.9
P/EBIT27.36.819.925.122.531.323.8
P/E35.48.6572.736.029.941.035.7
P/CFO31.65.911.221.122.537.521.8
Total Yield2.8%14.1%2.3%5.0%5.4%2.8%3.9%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.5%2.1%2.2%2.1%0.4%2.1%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg2.9%10.6%5.5%6.4%6.0%3.1%5.7%
D/E0.10.50.70.20.10.00.2
Net D/E0.00.30.60.20.00.00.1

Returns

WATHPQHPEIBMCSCOAAPLMedian
NameWaters HP Hewlett .Internat.Cisco Sy.Apple  
1M Rtn-5.2%-1.8%14.4%0.6%2.7%-1.5%-0.4%
3M Rtn32.3%-11.9%2.7%7.9%17.0%7.1%7.5%
6M Rtn9.5%-4.0%34.5%6.6%15.2%36.3%12.4%
12M Rtn3.1%-27.0%16.2%40.5%34.5%7.5%11.8%
3Y Rtn13.3%-1.9%71.1%143.1%81.3%120.2%76.2%
1M Excs Rtn-8.8%-5.6%12.9%-2.2%-0.0%-3.7%-3.0%
3M Excs Rtn28.0%-16.2%-1.7%3.6%12.7%2.8%3.2%
6M Excs Rtn-2.7%-16.3%22.3%-5.7%3.0%24.0%0.1%
12M Excs Rtn-11.6%-42.9%-0.7%25.0%19.9%-8.4%-4.6%
3Y Excs Rtn-67.5%-83.5%-11.2%59.6%-1.2%28.4%-6.2%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Waters instrument systems1,1091,2101,089891964
Waters service951891877794762
Chemistry consumables541525507432412
Thermal Analysis (TA) instrument systems253252226174191
Thermal Analysis (TA) service10293877478
Total2,9562,9722,7862,3652,407


Price Behavior

Price Behavior
Market Price$386.06 
Market Cap ($ Bil)23.0 
First Trading Date11/17/1995 
Distance from 52W High-7.5% 
   50 Days200 Days
DMA Price$375.86$339.32
DMA Trendindeterminateup
Distance from DMA2.7%13.8%
 3M1YR
Volatility29.1%36.4%
Downside Capture13.19104.78
Upside Capture145.4291.35
Correlation (SPY)24.1%51.4%
WAT Betas & Captures as of 11/30/2025

 1M2M3M6M1Y3Y
Beta0.460.430.590.760.950.96
Up Beta1.150.751.421.651.050.94
Down Beta-0.020.06-0.13-0.140.770.76
Up Capture192%178%151%85%92%95%
Bmk +ve Days12253873141426
Stock +ve Days12243565124368
Down Capture-54%-42%2%79%101%104%
Bmk -ve Days7162452107323
Stock -ve Days7172758122380

[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
 Comparison of WAT With Other Asset Classes (Last 1Y)
 WATSector ETFEquityGoldCommoditiesReal EstateBitcoin
Annualized Return4.9%15.1%17.8%72.1%8.6%4.4%-8.2%
Annualized Volatility36.2%17.2%19.4%19.3%15.2%17.0%35.0%
Sharpe Ratio0.200.650.722.700.340.09-0.08
Correlation With Other Assets 64.7%51.4%-0.3%15.6%52.1%15.5%

ETFs used for asset classes: Sector ETF = XLV, Equity = SPY, Gold = GLD, Commodities = DBC, Real Estate = VNQ, and Bitcoin = BTCUSD
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 5-Year Data
 Comparison of WAT With Other Asset Classes (Last 5Y)
 WATSector ETFEquityGoldCommoditiesReal EstateBitcoin
Annualized Return9.0%8.4%14.7%18.7%11.5%4.6%30.8%
Annualized Volatility31.8%14.5%17.1%15.5%18.7%18.9%48.6%
Sharpe Ratio0.330.400.700.970.500.160.57
Correlation With Other Assets 58.1%52.0%9.8%7.2%46.9%17.5%

ETFs used for asset classes: Sector ETF = XLV, Equity = SPY, Gold = GLD, Commodities = DBC, Real Estate = VNQ, and Bitcoin = BTCUSD
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 10-Year Data
 Comparison of WAT With Other Asset Classes (Last 10Y)
 WATSector ETFEquityGoldCommoditiesReal EstateBitcoin
Annualized Return11.4%9.9%14.8%15.3%7.0%5.3%69.2%
Annualized Volatility29.7%16.6%18.0%14.7%17.6%20.8%55.8%
Sharpe Ratio0.420.490.710.860.320.220.90
Correlation With Other Assets 59.3%57.0%3.8%13.9%45.4%13.4%

ETFs used for asset classes: Sector ETF = XLV, Equity = SPY, Gold = GLD, Commodities = DBC, Real Estate = VNQ, and Bitcoin = BTCUSD
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date12152025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity2,309,807
Short Interest: % Change Since 11302025-2.0%
Average Daily Volume539,667
Days-to-Cover Short Interest4.28
Basic Shares Quantity59,528,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.9%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
11/4/20256.3%9.0%14.7%
8/4/2025-1.6%-3.1%2.1%
5/6/2025-2.7%5.3%1.4%
2/12/2025-5.8%-6.7%-10.1%
11/1/202419.8%19.5%19.8%
7/31/20242.6%1.0%4.1%
5/7/20241.9%9.2%-4.0%
2/6/20241.7%-1.4%7.4%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive151415
# Negative9109
Median Positive2.9%5.3%6.4%
Median Negative-4.3%-4.7%-9.4%
Max Positive19.8%19.5%19.8%
Max Negative-6.8%-9.1%-18.1%

SEC Filings

Expand for More
Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251104202510-Q 9/27/2025
6302025804202510-Q 6/28/2025
3312025506202510-Q 3/29/2025
12312024225202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241101202410-Q 9/28/2024
6302024731202410-Q 6/29/2024
3312024507202410-Q 3/30/2024
12312023227202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231107202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023802202310-Q 7/1/2023
3312023509202310-Q 4/1/2023
12312022227202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221103202210-Q 10/1/2022
6302022804202210-Q 7/2/2022
3312022505202210-Q 4/2/2022
12312021224202210-K 12/31/2021