Erste Asset Management GmbH Sells 3,078 Shares of Waters Corporation $WAT

Key Points

• Erste Asset Management reduced its Waters position by 27.1% in the second quarter, selling 3,078 shares and retaining 8,268 shares valued at approximately $3.07 million. Institutional investors collectively own 94.01% of Waters’ stock.
• Waters exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $3.05 in EPS and $1.65 billion in revenue, while revenue increased 113.3% year over year. The company guided for third-quarter 2026 EPS of $3.95–$4.05 and full-year EPS of $14.45–$14.65.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with Waters carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and a $420.35 average price target. The stock opened at $414.90, near its 12-month high of $420.26.

Erste Asset Management GmbH trimmed its position in shares of Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT - Free Report) by 27.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,268 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 3,078 shares during the quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH's holdings in Waters were worth $3,072,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of WAT. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its holdings in shares of Waters by 121.2% in the fourth quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 73 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. SHP Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Waters in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. DV Equities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Waters in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Waters in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Resources Management Corp CT ADV purchased a new position in Waters during the first quarter valued at $27,000. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Waters Stock Performance

NYSE:WAT opened at $414.90 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $376.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $345.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 103.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.19. Waters Corporation has a 12-month low of $282.77 and a 12-month high of $420.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Waters (NYSE:WAT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.62 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.95 EPS. The firm's revenue 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. Equities research analysts forecast that Waters Corporation will post 14.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on WAT shares. UBS Group boosted their price target on Waters from $330.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Waters from $330.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Evercore reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $420.00 price objective on shares of Waters in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Three investment 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, Waters currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $420.35.

Insider Activity at Waters

In other news, Director Christopher A. Kuebler sold 3,626 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $397.94, for a total value of $1,442,930.44. Following the transaction, the director owned 17,808 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,086,515.52. The trade was a 16.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.31% of the company's stock.

Waters 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.

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