Waters stock slips after earnings beat and guidance holds
Published on 08/19/2026 at 19:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Waters Corp (US9418481035) stock closed at $401.78 on August 18, 2026, after a 1.46% decline, while the company posted $1.65 billion in revenue and $3.05 in EPS for the quarter ended August 4, 2026. The shares also sat below the 52-week high of $420.26, leaving the market focused on whether the earnings beat can carry into the next trading stretch.
Quarterly numbers
MarketBeat's quoted summary said the quarter's $3.05 EPS topped the $3.01 consensus by $0.04, and revenue reached $1.65 billion versus $1.62 billion expected. That combination matters because Waters' net margin was 3.58% and return on equity was 11.27% in the same report, so the headline beat came with profitability that still looks narrow.
Guidance added another anchor. Waters set Q3 2026 EPS guidance at $3.95 to $4.05 and FY 2026 EPS guidance at $14.45 to $14.65, while sell-side estimates in the same summary pointed to $14.57 for the full year.
Trading backdrop
The share price of $401.78 sat 1.46% below the prior close and just 4.52% under the 52-week high of $420.26, with the market capitalization at $39.47 billion and volume at 739,736 shares. The stock's P/E ratio of 100.19 also leaves little room for a softer growth print, which is why even a beat-and-raise setup can trade more on execution than on the label alone.
On the same data set, the 50-day moving average stood at $378.68 and the 200-day moving average at $346.24. That gap shows the trend is still constructive even after the latest pullback.
Waters' core products
Waters' analytical instruments, software, and services remain tied to laboratory and research workflows, which makes the company's recurring service and instrument mix important when investors parse quarterly margins. The latest quarter's revenue jump and guidance range matter because the business is still being judged on whether volume and pricing can offset a thin margin base.
Price and view
Waters stock closed at $401.78 on August 18, 2026, with extended trading shown at $401.26 in the morning after the session. The market cap was $39.47 billion as of August 19, 2026.
Fact box
Company: Waters Corp
ISIN: US9418481035
Ticker: WAT
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 18, 2026, 3:59 p.m. ET): $401.78 USD
Market cap: $39.47 billion (as of August 19, 2026)
Sector / Industry: Health Care / Medical Instruments & Supplies
Index membership: S&P 500
