Where it trades today
trading 93% of the way up its 52-week range
How the price has moved
What to weigh before acting
What Matters Now
- The read on the stock is often driven by pipeline durability, reimbursement pressure, and whether new launches can offset patent cliffs.
- WAT trades at 106.7x earnings, well above the healthcare average of 22.0x, so the market is already pricing in above-consensus execution.
- WAT carries a beta of 1.19, which means the stock should be judged on how it affects total portfolio swings, not just on standalone upside.
- WAT is in a bullish short-term regime and only 2.4% below its 52-week high, so the question is whether fundamentals can keep pace with that stronger tape.
Portfolio Use Case
- WAT is more useful for investors comparing conviction names inside healthcare than for someone looking for a passive “set and forget” holding.
- This name works better as a satellite or higher-conviction growth position because it can amplify market swings in both directions.
- The stock becomes more useful when paired with an explicit catalyst watchlist, because sector sentiment can shift quickly around policy, rates, or pipeline news.
What Would Change the View
- A reset in earnings expectations or a faster peer catch-up could compress the premium valuation currently embedded in WAT.
- If the short-term trend rolls over while volume fades, the market may stop paying up for momentum before the fundamentals change.
- Volatility is already above the sector norm, so even a correct long-term thesis can be painful if the position size is too aggressive.
Methodology
- Price, market cap, beta, yield, and liquidity fields for WAT come from Yahoo Finance quote and summary data.
- 30-day volatility is calculated from recent daily returns and annualized using a 252-trading-day convention.
- Sector context uses stored benchmark averages for Healthcare so each page compares the ticker against a stable peer baseline rather than against the whole market.
- Peer comparisons use the Portfolio Terminal coverage set and highlight nearby listed alternatives such as UNH, JNJ, PFE.
Sources
- Yahoo Finance quote dataopen →
Live quote, valuation, beta, yield, and volume fields used for WAT. Last refresh: Sep 18, 2026, 10:56 PM.
- Portfolio Terminal methodologyopen →
Explains how analytics, refresh cadence, and portfolio interpretation work across the product.
- Peer set and coverage context
Comparative context for this page is anchored around nearby tracked names such as UNH, JNJ, PFE.
What Waters Corporation does
Waters Corporation provides analytical workflow solutions in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The company operates through two segments, Waters and TA. The company designs, manufactures, sells, and services liquid chromatography, as well as mass spectrometry (MS) technology systems and supports products, including chromatography columns, and other consumable products. It also designs, manufactures, sells, and services thermal analysis, rheometry, and calorimetry instruments for use in predicting the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals, and viscous liquids for various industrial, consumer goods, and healthcare products, as well as for life…
What analysts expect
WAT carries a buy consensus from 24 analysts, with an average price target of $442.71 versus $421.63 today (+5.0%). Targets are estimates and can move quickly after earnings.
Consensus aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Targets are estimates, not forecasts.
How the business is doing
WAT generated $4.64B in trailing revenue (113.4% year over year), with a 3.6% net margin, and -$142.07M of free cash flow, against $4.94B of net debt.
The numbers, year by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Gross profit | Operating income | Net income | EPS | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.17B | $1.88B | $802.59M | $642.63M | $10.80 | $539.81M |
| 2024 | $2.96B | $1.76B | $837.92M | $637.83M | $10.75 | $619.64M |
| 2023 | $2.96B | $1.76B | $817.68M | $642.23M | $10.87 | $442.18M |
| 2022 | $2.97B | $1.72B | $883.19M | $707.75M | $11.80 | $428.20M |
When it reports next
Estimates aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Dates move and estimates change until the report lands.
How it sits in healthcare
Defensive sector including pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, and healthcare services.
The companies it competes with
WAT beside the healthcare names it is usually measured against.
What the chart is saying
Waters Corporation trades at $421.63, 2.4% below its 52-week high. With a beta of 1.19, it shows about average sensitivity to what the wider market does.
Questions people ask about it
Is WAT a good buy right now?
Waters Corporation trades at 106.7x earnings. This is above market average, reflecting growth expectations. Current risk level is Medium based on 25.2% volatility.
Does WAT pay dividends?
Waters Corporation does not currently pay a regular dividend. The company may be reinvesting profits for growth.
How volatile is WAT?
With 30-day annualized volatility of 25.2% and beta of 1.19, WAT is classified as Medium risk. Expect larger swings than the broader market during volatile periods.
What is the analyst price target for WAT?
The average analyst price target for Waters Corporation (WAT) is $442.71 based on 24 analyst estimates, about 5.0% above the current price of $421.63. The published range runs from $349.00 to $490.00.
How much revenue does WAT generate?
Waters Corporation reported $4.64B in trailing twelve-month revenue. Revenue growth is running at 113.4% year over year. Net margin sits at 3.6%. Figures are aggregated from company filings by Yahoo Finance and refresh on an hourly cadence.