Westport Asset Management Inc. Buys Shares of 2,338 Waters Corporation $WAT

Westport Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,338 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock, valued at approximately $696,000.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in WAT. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Waters during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT lifted its stake in Waters by 121.2% in the fourth quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 73 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Vision Retirement LLC bought a new stake in Waters in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Bollard Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waters during the first quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Louisbourg Investments Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Waters during the first quarter valued at $30,000. Institutional investors own 94.01% of the company’s stock.

Waters Price Performance

Shares of WAT opened at $374.49 on Monday. Waters Corporation has a one year low of $275.05 and a one year high of $414.15. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $365.23 and its 200-day moving average is $345.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.20.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.39. The business had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Waters had a net margin of 11.91% and a return on equity of 15.60%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 91.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $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. Equities analysts anticipate that Waters Corporation will post 14.51 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WAT. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Waters in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Waters in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $435.00 target price for the company. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Waters from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. HSBC raised their price target on shares of Waters from $415.00 to $435.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Waters from $350.00 to $390.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waters has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $401.60.

About Waters

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.