Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Buys 21,718 Shares of Waters Corporation $WAT

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its position in Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) by 69.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,893 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 21,718 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in Waters were worth $15,752,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its stake in Waters by 121.2% during the fourth quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 73 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. First United Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Waters in the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. SHP Wealth Management bought a new position in Waters in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. DV Equities LLC bought a new position in Waters in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Western Pacific Wealth Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Waters during the 1st quarter valued at $47,000. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on WAT. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on shares of Waters in a report on Thursday, June 11th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $400.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Waters from $330.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Waters to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. Barclays raised their price target on Waters from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on Waters from $345.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $396.68.

Waters Stock Performance

NYSE:WAT opened at $378.62 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $37.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.11, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.20. The business has a 50 day moving average of $350.65 and a 200 day moving average of $346.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.79 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Waters Corporation has a 1-year low of $275.05 and a 1-year high of $414.15.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.31 by $0.39. The business had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.20 billion. Waters had a net margin of 11.91% and a return on equity of 15.60%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 91.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.25 earnings per share. Waters has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.950-3.050 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 14.400-14.600 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Waters Corporation will post 14.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.