BNP Paribas Financial Markets Increases Stock Position in Waters Corporation $WAT

Key Points

• BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in Waters Corporation by 21.3%, acquiring an additional 23,296 shares, bringing its total holdings to 132,610 shares valued at approximately $48.9 million.
• Waters Corporation reported quarterly earnings of $2.95 per share, exceeding the expected $2.93, and its revenue rose by 8.8% year-over-year to $771.33 million, surpassing estimates.
• Institutional investors own 94.01% of Waters' stock, indicating strong institutional interest, alongside varying ratings from analysts with a consensus target price of $378.73.

BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT - Free Report) by 21.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 132,610 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after buying an additional 23,296 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned approximately 0.22% of Waters worth $48,876,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WAT. Olde Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Waters in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new position in Waters in the first quarter valued at $28,000. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Waters by 118.9% in the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 81 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Waters by 5,200.0% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 106 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in Waters in the first quarter valued at $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.01% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WAT has been the topic of several research reports. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Waters from $374.00 to $352.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Scotiabank reaffirmed a "sector outperform" rating and set a $465.00 price objective on shares of Waters in a report on Friday, July 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $315.00 price objective on Waters and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Wall Street Zen lowered Waters from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Waters in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $378.73.

Waters Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WAT traded down $6.69 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $289.79. 541,210 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 624,917. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Waters Corporation has a 1 year low of $275.05 and a 1 year high of $423.56. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $306.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of $337.05. The stock has a market cap of $17.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.13, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.07.

Waters (NYSE:WAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.93 by $0.02. Waters had a return on equity of 38.60% and a net margin of 21.71%.The firm had revenue of $771.33 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $745.96 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.63 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Waters has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 3.150-3.250 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 12.950-13.050 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Waters Corporation will post 12.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waters Company Profile

Waters Corporation 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.