Leerink Partnrs Brokers Lift Earnings Estimates for Waters

Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) – Investment analysts at Leerink Partnrs boosted their Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Waters in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, February 12th. Leerink Partnrs analyst P. Souda now forecasts that the medical instruments supplier will earn $3.20 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $3.12. The consensus estimate for Waters’ current full-year earnings is $11.79 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Waters’ Q1 2026 earnings at $2.45 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $3.21 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.62 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $4.77 EPS.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Waters from $340.00 to $380.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America decreased their price target on Waters from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Scotiabank raised Waters from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and increased their price target for the company from $430.00 to $450.00 in a research report on Thursday. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Waters from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $430.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Waters from $363.00 to $410.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Waters has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $390.40.

Waters Stock Performance

Shares of WAT opened at $369.71 on Friday. 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 has a market capitalization of $21.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.28, a PEG ratio of 7.37 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $389.84 and a 200 day moving average of $364.55. Waters has a 12 month low of $279.24 and a 12 month high of $423.56.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.02 by $0.08. Waters had a return on equity of 49.93% and a net margin of 21.43%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waters

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Waters in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new position in shares of Waters in the third quarter valued at $33,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Waters in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in Waters by 129.3% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Waters

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.