Waters Corp stock gains as institutional buying and solid Q2 figures support outlook
Published on 09/09/2026 at 10:54 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Waters Corporation stock (ISIN US9418481035) is trading near USD 403 as of September 9, 2026 on the New York Stock Exchange, supported by robust second quarter 2026 results and growing institutional ownership in the analytical instruments specialist.
Institutional investors increase positions in Waters
Per an analysis published on September 9, 2026, Amundi increased its stake in Waters Corporation by 7.5 percent in the second quarter of 2026, taking its holdings to 464,501 shares worth about USD 174.2 million and representing roughly 0.47 percent of the company’s outstanding stock, according to MarketBeat.
Another filing highlighted on September 8, 2026 shows that Saudi Central Bank raised its position in Waters Corporation by 89.6 percent in the second quarter of 2026, acquiring an additional 3,254 shares to reach 6,884 shares valued at USD 2.6 million, as reported by MarketBeat.
These moves contribute to a high institutional share of ownership, with institutional investors and hedge funds collectively holding about 94.01 percent of Waters Corporation’s stock as of the latest filings, according to MarketBeat.
Q2 2026 earnings beat and guidance support growth story
Waters Corporation reported its latest quarterly figures for the second quarter of 2026 on August 4, 2026, delivering earnings per share of USD 3.05 and exceeding the analyst consensus of USD 3.01 by USD 0.04, according to MarketBeat.
Revenue in the second quarter of 2026 reached USD 1.65 billion, slightly above the consensus estimate of USD 1.62 billion and representing a 113.3 percent increase compared with the same quarter of the prior year, as noted by MarketBeat.
For the full fiscal year 2026, Waters Corporation has guided toward earnings per share in a range of USD 14.45 to USD 14.65, and for the third quarter of 2026 it expects EPS between USD 3.95 and USD 4.05, according to guidance figures summarized by MarketBeat.
The company generated a return on equity of 11.27 percent and posted a net margin of 3.58 percent in the second quarter of 2026, illustrating a profitable growth profile in its laboratory and research instrumentation business, as described by MarketBeat.
Analyst ratings and valuation for Waters stock
Equity analysts have responded positively to Waters Corporation’s recent performance, with a series of price target increases in mid-2026. Citigroup raised its price target on Waters stock from USD 425 to USD 470 and maintained a buy rating in a report published on August 10, 2026, according to MarketBeat.
The Goldman Sachs Group increased its price objective for Waters from USD 380 to USD 425 and reiterated a buy recommendation on July 14, 2026, while Barclays lifted its target price from USD 425 to USD 460 and assigned an overweight rating on August 5, 2026, as compiled by MarketBeat.
In addition, Piper Sandler upgraded Waters shares from neutral to overweight and raised its price target from USD 400 to USD 480 on August 27, 2026, and Royal Bank of Canada increased its price objective from USD 435 to USD 475 with an outperform rating on August 5, 2026, according to analyst coverage summarized by MarketBeat.
Overall, three analysts currently rate Waters stock as Strong Buy, ten assign a Buy rating and seven recommend Hold, resulting in an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of USD 424.35, based on data compiled by MarketBeat.
Stock valuation, trading metrics and risk considerations
On September 9, 2026 Waters Corporation shares opened at USD 403.29 on the New York Stock Exchange, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately USD 39.62 billion, a price-earnings ratio of 100.57 and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38, according to trading metrics reported by MarketBeat.
The stock’s 52-week range runs from a low of USD 282.77 to a high of USD 426.22, placing the current price of around USD 403.29 roughly USD 120.52 above the 52-week low and USD 22.93 below the 52-week high, which illustrates that Waters stock is trading closer to the top of its one-year trading band, as shown by MarketBeat.
Liquidity and balance sheet metrics are solid, with Waters reporting a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32 at the latest quarter, according to MarketBeat, which suggests a moderate leverage profile and comfortable short-term liquidity.
At the same time, the elevated earnings multiple near 100 times trailing earnings underscores valuation risk for investors if growth or margins were to disappoint relative to the company’s guidance or analyst expectations, especially given that the net margin is 3.58 percent, according to MarketBeat.
Waters stock price as of the latest trading day
Waters Corporation stock most recently traded at USD 403.29 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 9, 2026, with the shares positioned within their 52-week range of USD 282.77 to USD 426.22 and reflecting a market capitalization close to USD 39.62 billion in United States dollars.
Waters Corporation stock profile
- Company: Waters Corporation Inc.
- ISIN: US9418481035
- Ticker: WAT
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 9, 2026): 403.29 USD
- Market capitalization: 39.62 billion USD (as of September 9, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Health Care / Medical Instruments and Equipment
- Index membership: S&P 500
