Fenimore Asset Management Inc Has $86.62 Million Position in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT)

Fenimore Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 233,477 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 713 shares during the quarter. Waters comprises about 1.8% of Fenimore Asset Management Inc’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Fenimore Asset Management Inc owned approximately 0.39% of Waters worth $86,615,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Kennebec Savings Bank bought a new stake in shares of Waters during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its stake in Waters by 235.7% in the 4th quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Waters in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. increased its position in Waters by 63.2% during the 3rd quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 186 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $67,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waters in the fourth quarter valued at about $72,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.01% of the company’s stock.

Waters Trading Down 0.4 %

WAT opened at $410.95 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $24.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.21, a PEG ratio of 7.17 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 2.02, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The company’s 50 day moving average is $381.66 and its 200-day moving average is $354.02. Waters Co. has a 1-year low of $279.24 and a 1-year high of $416.24.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.25. Waters had a net margin of 21.43% and a return on equity of 49.93%. The firm had revenue of $740.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $712.99 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.84 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Waters Co. will post 11.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Waters from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $355.00 to $415.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Waters from $335.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Waters from $380.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Waters from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Waters from $332.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $384.71.

Waters Company 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.