UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC Buys 28,018 Shares of Waters Corporation $WAT

Key Points

• UBS AM increased its stake in Waters Corporation by 5.6%, acquiring 28,018 additional shares, bringing its total ownership to approximately 0.89% valued at $195.6 million.
• Waters Corporation reported a net margin of 21.71% and an 8.8% year-over-year revenue increase, achieving $2.95 EPS for the last quarter, surpassing expectations.
• Market analysts have a consensus rating of "Hold" for Waters shares, with a price target average of $378.73.

UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT - Free Report) by 5.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 530,697 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 28,018 shares during the quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC owned approximately 0.89% of Waters worth $195,599,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Waters by 16.6% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 1,126 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $415,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC purchased a new position in Waters during the 1st quarter worth approximately $331,000. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in Waters during the 1st quarter valued at $563,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Waters by 3.6% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 200,051 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $73,733,000 after purchasing an additional 6,976 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of Waters by 3,228.6% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 3,262 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $1,202,000 after purchasing an additional 3,164 shares in the last quarter. 94.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Waters Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NYSE WAT traded down $7.05 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $295.40. The stock had a trading volume of 326,673 shares, compared to its average volume of 565,846. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $299.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $332.74. Waters Corporation has a 52 week low of $275.05 and a 52 week high of $423.56. The company has a market capitalization of $17.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.75.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

WAT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Waters in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Scotiabank reaffirmed a "sector outperform" rating and set a $465.00 target price on shares of Waters in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Waters from $330.00 to $315.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 5th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Waters from $370.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Waters from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $378.73.

Waters 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.