Waters Corporation (WAT) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Nov 5, 2026: fair value (intrinsic value) of Waters Corporation stock $91.26, price $453, that is 79.9% below the price, quality 46 out of 100. Rating: strongly overvalued. Calculated from audited financials with 24 of our 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
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Waters Corporation
WAT · USOur calculation puts a fair price 80% below what the stock costs today.
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Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year. As of Nov 4, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range $236.70 – $480.07 · fair‑value band $55.98 – $132.91 · the $453.08 price screens above the $91.26 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). As of Nov 4, 2026.
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Company profile
Waters Corporation provides analytical workflow solutions in Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
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The company operates through two segments, Waters and TA. The company designs, manufactures, sells, and services liquid chromatography, as well as mass spectrometry (MS) technology systems and supports products, including chromatography columns, and other consumable products.
It also designs, manufactures, sells, and services thermal analysis, rheometry, and calorimetry instruments for use in predicting the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals, and viscous liquids for various industrial, consumer goods, and healthcare products, as well as for life science research; and develops and supplies software-based products that interface with its instruments, as well as other manufacturers' instruments.
In addition, the company offers MS technology, which is used in drug discovery and development comprising clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease processes, nutritional safety analysis, and environmental testing.
Its products are used by clinical, pharmaceutical, biochemical, industrial, nutritional safety, environmental, academic, and governmental customers working in research and development, quality assurance, and other laboratory applications.
The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts.
Stock analysis
Waters Corporation (WAT) currently trades at $453.08, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $91.26, 80% below the price, so the stock looks overvalued today.
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Valuation
Bull case: the Growth Earnings group reads highest at a median of $121.96 per share, and 0 of the 24 models we run sit above the $453.08 price.
Bear case: the Earnings-Based group reads lowest at $34.82, and 24 of the 24 models stay below the price. Data coverage for this calculation is medium.
Scenario range: $55.98 (bear) to $132.91 (bull), the price of $453.08 sits above it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 46/100 (below-average quality), in the Healthcare sector.
Healthy Growth: Revenue growth appears healthy and is supported by profitability and cash-flow quality.
Waters Corporation reported revenue of $3.2B in FY2025 versus $2.8B in FY2021, a compound +3.2%/yr. Reported net income was $643M in FY2025, compounding −1.9%/yr from FY2021.
Key figures
Market cap $44.5B Large · P/E ratio 114.7 · P/S ratio 23.3 · EPS (TTM) $3.95 · Net margin 20.3% · Return on equity 1.9% · Return on assets (EBIT) 21.3% · Operating margin 9.4%.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 47 out of 100 (low confidence).
What moves the price
The last reported earnings sit well below what analysts expect (earnings in transition, for example after write-downs or an earnings dip); whether the stock is cheap or expensive hinges on the expected recovery actually arriving. Read the fair value with that caveat.
The share trades about 6% below its 52-week high and 60% above its 52-week low, currently above its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Healthcare peers we cover trades at −8% fair-value upside, at −80%, WAT screens richer than that median.
Fair Value models
All 24 models by family
The fair value above starts from this blend and is adjusted for dilution from new shares.
Quality Score breakdown
It rates the business: profits, how they develop, real cash, balance sheet, investing and share count.
Insider trades
In the last 6 months, one officer or director sold shares worth $1.4M and none bought.
- SaleChristopher A KueblerDirector3,626 shares at $397.94$1.4MAug 6, 2026
- BuyWei JiangDirector500 shares at $289.46$144,730Mar 16, 2026
- BuyRichard H FearonDirector1,000 shares at $306.34$306,340Mar 6, 2026
Plus 7 other filings such as grants, option exercises or tax withholding. They are not market purchases or sales.
Sales are often planned (taxes, diversification, 10b5-1 plans). Purchases with their own money are seen as the stronger sign. For information only: not part of the quality score or Fair Value.
Source: SEC Form 4, as of Nov 5, 2026. All filings at the SEC ↗
Revenue & earnings trend
Growth Forecast
WAT screens overvalued: fair value 80% below the price. Compare with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc →
Recent news
- Waters Gears Up to Report Q3 Results: How to Play the Stock?
- Waters Launches AI-Powered Peak Integration Expanding its Suite of Premium AI Subscription Capabilities for Empower Software
- Waters & Labcorp Expand Access to FDA-Approved HPV Screening Tests
- 2 Reasons to like WAT and 1 to stay skeptical
Compare Waters Corporation with another stock
Price, fair value, quality and upside side by side.
Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Diagnostics & Research · 126 stocks
Valuation Multiplesvs Diagnostics & Research median · lower = cheaper
Strength profile in five axes (Snowflake)
VALUE 0: the price sits above our fair-value range.
Context: sector, industry, market
- Is the Health Care sector expensive or cheap?
- P/E, EV/EBITDA and margins by industry (reference tables)
- P/S ratio by industry
- EBIT margin by industry
- Piotroski F-Score screener with fair value
- Undervalued stocks: US Stocks
- Valuation of the USA market
Values & ESG
Does this company touch areas you may want to avoid? The classification is inferred from sector and industry.
Similar stocks
10 more Diagnostics & Research stocks, each showing price versus our Fair Value estimate.
| Stock | Price | Fair Value | vs Fair Value | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illumina, Inc ILMN | $208.00 | $228.80 | +10% | vs WAT |
| IQVIA Holdings IQV | $264.88 | $288.85 | +9% | vs WAT |
| WuXi AppTec Co 603259 | ¥154.46 | ¥164.66 | +7% | vs WAT |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc TMO | $676.94 | $686.04 | +1% | vs WAT |
| Danaher Corporation DHR | $226.34 | $209.18 | −8% | vs WAT |
| IDEXX Laboratories, Inc IDXX | $670.71 | $496.48 | −26% | vs WAT |
| Labcorp Holdings LH | $363.30 | $230.82 | −36% | vs WAT |
| Mettler-Toledo International Inc MTD | $1,679 | $650.28 | −61% | vs WAT |
| Agilent Technologies, Inc A | $171.78 | $64.53 | −62% | vs WAT |
| Lonza Group LONN | CHF 672.40 | CHF 153.50 | −77% | vs WAT |
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Frequently asked questions
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Key figures of Waters Corporation
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