Liontrust Investment Partners LLP Grows Stock Holdings in Waters Corporation $WAT

Key Points

• Liontrust Investment Partners increased its Waters stake by 20.1% in the second quarter, owning 358,979 shares worth approximately $134.6 million. Institutional investors collectively own 94.01% of the company.
• Waters reported quarterly earnings of $3.05 per share, surpassing estimates of $3.01, while revenue reached $1.65 billion and grew 113.3% year over year. The company issued full-year 2026 EPS guidance of $14.45 to $14.65.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $424.35, although Waters trades at a lofty price-to-earnings ratio of 103.38. Shares recently opened at $414.55, near the consensus target.

Liontrust Investment Partners LLP boosted its stake in shares of Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT - Free Report) by 20.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 358,979 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 60,124 shares during the period. Waters comprises about 2.0% of Liontrust Investment Partners LLP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Liontrust Investment Partners LLP owned approximately 0.37% of Waters worth $134,631,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Waters in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV bought a new position in Waters in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its holdings in Waters by 121.2% during the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 73 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in Waters during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Vision Retirement LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waters during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Waters Stock Down 1.6%

NYSE WAT opened at $414.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Waters Corporation has a 52 week low of $282.77 and a 52 week high of $426.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 103.38, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a fifty day moving average of $387.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $348.45.

Waters (NYSE:WAT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.01 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion. Waters had a net margin of 3.58% and a return on equity of 11.27%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 113.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.95 earnings per share. Waters has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.950-4.050 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 14.450-14.650 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Waters Corporation will post 14.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Christopher A. Kuebler sold 3,626 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the director directly owned 17,808 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,086,515.52. This represents a 16.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.31% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WAT has been the topic of several research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Waters from $330.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Waters from $425.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Waters from $330.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Waters in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $425.00 price objective for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waters presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $424.35.

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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