UBS Group Issues Positive Forecast for Waters (NYSE:WAT) Stock Price

Waters (NYSE:WAT) had its price objective upped by UBS Group from $405.00 to $410.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the medical instruments supplier’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on WAT. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Waters from $363.00 to $410.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Waters from $332.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Cfra set a $389.00 price target on Waters in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Waters from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $430.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Waters from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Waters presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $390.40.

Waters Stock Performance

NYSE:WAT opened at $379.45 on Thursday. 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 $22.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.37 and a beta of 1.01. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $390.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $363.96. Waters has a twelve month low of $279.24 and a twelve 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 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.02 by $0.08. Waters had a net margin of 21.43% and a return on equity of 49.93%. As a group, research analysts expect that Waters will post 11.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in Waters in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Waters during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in Waters in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Waters in the third quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its stake in Waters by 235.7% during the 4th quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during 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.