National Pension Service Has $38.71 Million Stock Position in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT)

National Pension Service lowered its position in shares of Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) by 0.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 107,562 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 98 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned about 0.18% of Waters worth $38,710,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Linscomb Wealth Inc. grew its holdings in Waters by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. now owns 7,841 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $2,275,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in Waters by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 1,084 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Waters by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 1,170 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $339,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its position in shares of Waters by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 13,087 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $3,797,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of Waters by 1.4% during the third quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,782 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,001,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. 94.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waters Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE WAT opened at $386.59 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $344.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $326.73. Waters Co. has a one year low of $241.95 and a one year high of $393.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.96 billion, a PE ratio of 36.90, a P/E/G ratio of 7.50 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.25. Waters had a net margin of 21.43% and a return on equity of 49.93%. The company had revenue of $740.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $712.99 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.84 earnings per share. Waters’s revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Waters Co. will post 11.67 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on WAT. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Waters from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Waters from $380.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. Leerink Partners raised shares of Waters from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $325.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Waters from $332.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on Waters from $363.00 to $410.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $365.85.

Waters 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.