Rathbones Group PLC Takes Position in Waters Corporation $WAT

Key Points

• Rathbones Group acquired 3,150 Waters shares worth approximately $938,000 in the first quarter, while institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 94.01% of the stock.
• Waters reported quarterly adjusted EPS of $3.05 and revenue of $1.65 billion, beating analyst estimates, and raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $14.45–$14.65.
• Analyst sentiment is favorable, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $418.10, although shares trade near $398 and the company’s forward valuation remains elevated.

Rathbones Group PLC acquired a new stake in Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 3,150 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock, valued at approximately $938,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WAT. Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Waters in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV purchased a new stake in shares of Waters during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT raised its position in shares of 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 during the period. Vision Retirement LLC acquired a new position in Waters in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Bollard Group LLC acquired a new position in Waters in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. HSBC raised their target price on Waters from $415.00 to $435.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Bank of America upped their price target on Waters from $370.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Waters from $435.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday. Evercore reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $420.00 price objective on shares of Waters in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, TD Cowen raised shares of Waters from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from $408.00 to $475.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Three research 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's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waters currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $418.10.

Waters Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE WAT opened at $398.14 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $39.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 99.29, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Waters Corporation has a 52-week low of $275.05 and a 52-week high of $414.15. The business's 50 day moving average is $372.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $345.04.

Waters (NYSE:WAT - Get Free Report) last released 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 prior year, the firm earned $2.95 earnings per share. 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. Research analysts predict that Waters Corporation will post 14.52 EPS for the current year.

Waters News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Waters this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Waters reported second-quarter adjusted EPS of $3.05, above the $3.01 consensus and up from $2.95 a year earlier. Revenue reached $1.645 billion, exceeding estimates of $1.62 billion and the company’s guidance range. Waters Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, 2026 Revenue Growth View Raised
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its full-year 2026 outlook, including reported revenue guidance of approximately $6.415 billion to $6.476 billion and adjusted EPS guidance of $14.45 to $14.65. Management cited broad-based growth across its organic operations and recently acquired Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions businesses. Waters Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Organic revenue rose 7% as reported, or 9% in constant currency. Analytical Sciences instrument growth reached 8%, while chemistry consumables posted double-digit growth, supported by improving pharmaceutical and industrial markets. The results suggest the end-market recovery is expanding beyond a limited set of customers.
• Positive Sentiment: William Blair maintained a Buy rating, citing broad-based end-market recovery and expected synergies from the acquired businesses. Recent institutional activity also showed substantial share additions by BlackRock, State Street and other large investors, although these holdings are not a direct near-term trading signal. Analyst Maintains Buy on Waters
• Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target from $370 to $400 but retained an Equal Weight rating, implying limited additional upside at recent trading levels. Wells Fargo Raises Waters Price Target
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue guidance of $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion is slightly below the $1.8 billion consensus midpoint expectation, while Waters reported a GAAP loss tied largely to acquisition-related impacts. However, adjusted profitability remained above expectations.

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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This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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