Waters (NYSE:WAT) Issues Q4 2024 Earnings Guidance

Waters (NYSE:WAT) updated its fourth quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 3.900-4.100 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 4.090. The company issued revenue guidance of $846.5 million-$862.9 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $853.3 million. Waters also updated its FY 2024 guidance to 11.670-11.870 EPS.

Waters Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of Waters stock traded down $2.23 during trading on Monday, hitting $384.98. 541,333 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 429,799. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.35 and a beta of 0.97. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $342.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $325.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 2.10 and a quick ratio of 1.42. Waters has a 1-year low of $241.95 and a 1-year high of $391.00.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $740.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $712.99 million. Waters had a net margin of 20.71% and a return on equity of 56.81%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.84 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Waters will post 11.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on WAT shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Waters from $340.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Waters from $332.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. Leerink Partnrs raised shares of Waters from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on shares of Waters from $345.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Waters to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $365.85.

Waters Company 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.