Sivik Global Healthcare LLC Invests $5.19 Million in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT)

Sivik Global Healthcare LLC purchased a new position in shares of Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 14,000 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock, valued at approximately $5,194,000. Waters makes up about 2.7% of Sivik Global Healthcare LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in WAT. Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Waters in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Waters in the third quarter valued at $35,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its stake in Waters by 235.7% in the fourth 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. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Waters in the fourth quarter valued at $63,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. increased its stake in Waters by 63.2% in the third quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 186 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.01% of the company’s stock.

Waters Stock Performance

Shares of WAT stock opened at $417.06 on Thursday. Waters Co. has a one year low of $279.24 and a one year high of $419.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 2.02. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $385.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $356.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.17 and a beta of 1.01.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $712.99 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.84 earnings per share. Waters’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Waters Co. will post 11.79 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on WAT shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Waters from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Waters from $340.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Waters in a report on Monday, December 23rd. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $430.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Waters from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $355.00 to $415.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Finally, Cfra set a $389.00 price target on shares of Waters in a report on Thursday, October 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $384.71.

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.