Waters Rises 1.39% on Institutional Buys but Traders Rank 428th in Activity

On August 29, 2025, Waters (WAT) rose 1.39% with a trading volume of $220 million, ranking 428th in market activity. Institutional ownership remains strong, with 94.01% of shares held by hedge funds and institutional investors. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. boosted its stake by 6.0% in the first quarter, acquiring 9,901 additional shares, elevating its total holdings to 173,791 shares valued at $64 million.

Analyst activity highlighted mixed sentiment. Robert W. Baird cut its price target to $352 from $374 while maintaining an “outperform” rating. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” stance, and Deutsche Bank set a $315 target with a “hold” rating. The stock’s consensus target price stands at $378.73, reflecting a “Hold” rating from the analyst community. Recent institutional buying included Olde Wealth Management and IFP Advisors Inc., with the latter increasing its position by 118.9%.

Financial performance underscored the stock’s resilience. Waters reported Q2 2025 earnings of $2.95 per share, exceeding estimates by $0.02, and achieved an 8.8% year-over-year revenue increase to $771.33 million. The company’s net margin of 21.71% and return on equity of 38.60% further highlight its operational efficiency. Full-year 2025 guidance projects EPS between $12.95 and $13.05, aligning with analysts’ expectations.