Waters Stock Falls 1.36% Amid 32.58% Volume Spike, Ranking 375th in Market Activity as Merger Gains FDA Momentum

On July 30, 2025, Waters Corporation (WAT) closed with a 1.36% decline, trading at a daily volume of $0.33 billion, a 32.58% increase from the prior day. The stock ranked 375th in trading activity across the market. The movement coincided with broader developments in BD’s diagnostic business, which is in the process of merging with Waters. BD recently secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its BD Veritor™ System for SARS-CoV-2, a rapid antigen test offering results in 15 minutes. The clearance replaces the test’s Emergency Use Authorization, effective early fall 2025, and underscores BD’s role in point-of-care diagnostics, a segment critical to the merger’s strategic rationale.

The FDA approval highlights BD’s commitment to expanding its diagnostic capabilities, which aligns with Waters’ focus on analytical technologies. The Veritor system, designed for CLIA-waived environments, uses digital lateral flow immunoassay technology to detect antigens in symptomatic patients. This development strengthens BD’s portfolio ahead of the $17.5 billion merger with Waters, which aims to consolidate their positions in life sciences and diagnostics. Analysts note that regulatory milestones like this clearance could influence investor sentiment around the combined entity’s operational synergies and market reach.

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