Vident Advisory LLC Increases Holdings in Waters Corporation $WAT

Key Points

• Vident Advisory LLC increased its stake in Waters Corporation by 162.8%, acquiring an additional 995 shares, bringing their total ownership to 1,606 shares valued at approximately $592,000.
• Waters Corporation reported earnings per share of $2.95 for the last quarter, surpassing analyst estimates of $2.93, with a revenue of $771.33 million, an 8.8% increase from the previous year.
• Analysts currently rate Waters Corporation as "Hold"** with a consensus target price of $378.73, reflecting a mix of ratings across various financial institutions.

Vident Advisory LLC lifted its position in Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT - Free Report) by 162.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,606 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 995 shares during the quarter. Vident Advisory LLC's holdings in Waters were worth $592,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Waters by 50,228.3% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 662,320 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $244,111,000 after buying an additional 661,004 shares in the last quarter. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd grew its holdings in Waters by 676.8% during the 1st quarter. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd now owns 705,733 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $260,112,000 after buying an additional 614,877 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Waters by 3,349.7% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 304,404 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $112,928,000 after buying an additional 295,580 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Waters by 93.3% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 572,823 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $211,125,000 after buying an additional 276,433 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Waters during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $94,028,000. 94.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Waters Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of WAT traded up $3.26 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $309.58. 640,867 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 545,700. The stock has a market cap of $18.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.07. The stock's 50-day moving average is $303.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $335.03. Waters Corporation has a 12 month low of $275.05 and a 12 month high of $423.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.22.

Waters (NYSE:WAT - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.95 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.93 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $771.33 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $745.96 million. Waters had a return on equity of 38.60% and a net margin of 21.71%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $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. Research analysts forecast that Waters Corporation will post 12.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on WAT shares. Jefferies Financial Group set a $385.00 price target on Waters and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Waters from $330.00 to $315.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Waters from $374.00 to $352.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Waters from $370.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Waters in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Waters currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target 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.