Waters jumps 11.4% after Q1 earnings beat and higher 2026 guidance

Waters Corporation (WAT) is up 11.4% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: The move appears tied to Waters’ first-quarter 2026 earnings release, which topped expectations and included raised full-year guidance. Investors also seem to be rewarding early financial contribution and execution around the recently closed combination with BD’s Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions businesses.

Details:

Waters reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.267 billion, including $747 million of organic revenue and $520 million from the acquired Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions businesses from the transaction close through quarter-end.

The company reported adjusted EPS of $2.70 for the quarter, which the market treated as a meaningful beat versus consensus expectations.

In its earnings materials, Waters lifted full-year 2026 targets, including reported revenue of $6.405–$6.455 billion and adjusted EPS of $14.40–$14.60.

Waters also issued second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $2.95–$3.05, helping set expectations for near-term momentum.

Sources:

Waters Investor Relations, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Investing.com

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

$WAT Insider Trading Activity

$WAT insiders have traded $WAT stock on the open market 2 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 2 have been purchases and 0 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $WAT stock by insiders over the last 6 months:

RICHARD H FEARON purchased 1,000 shares for an estimated $306,340
WEI JIANG purchased 500 shares for an estimated $144,730

To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard. You can access data on insider stock transactions through the Quiver Quantitative API.

$WAT Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 642 institutional investors add shares of $WAT stock to their portfolio, and 320 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 1,499,305 shares (-75.2%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $569,481,018
VERITAS ASSET MANAGEMENT LLP added 656,436 shares (+112.3%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $249,334,085
BLACKROCK, INC. removed 634,082 shares (-10.5%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $240,843,366
PRICE T ROWE ASSOCIATES INC /MD/ added 561,047 shares (+509.8%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $213,102,482
MARSHALL WACE, LLP added 547,109 shares (+1611.3%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $207,808,411
GUARDCAP ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD removed 520,429 shares (-98.1%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $153,773,758
MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC added 516,094 shares (+2281.7%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $196,027,984

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard. You can access data on hedge funds moves and 13F filings through the Quiver Quantitative API.

$WAT Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress have traded $WAT stock 4 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 2 have been purchases and 2 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $WAT stock by members of Congress over the last 6 months:

REPRESENTATIVE GILBERT RAY CISNEROS, JR. purchased up to $15,000 on 03/18.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS H. KEAN, JR. has traded it 2 times. They made 0 purchases and 2 sales worth up to $30,000 on 03/10, 02/13.
REPRESENTATIVE JULIA LETLOW purchased up to $15,000 on 12/08.

To track congressional stock trading, check out Quiver Quantitative's congressional trading dashboard. You can access data on congressional stock trades through the Quiver Quantitative API.

$WAT Analyst Ratings

Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $WAT in the last several months. We have seen 2 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.

Here are some recent analyst ratings:

William Blair issued a "Outperform" rating on 01/05/2026
Wolfe Research issued a "Outperform" rating on 12/10/2025

To track analyst ratings and price targets for $WAT, check out Quiver Quantitative's $WAT forecast page.

$WAT Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $WAT recently. We have seen 10 analysts offer price targets for $WAT in the last 6 months, with a median target of $352.5.

Here are some recent targets:

Lu Li from UBS set a target price of $330.0 on 04/13/2026
Justin Bowers from Deutsche Bank set a target price of $330.0 on 03/25/2026
Kallum Titchmarsh from Morgan Stanley set a target price of $350.0 on 02/23/2026
Luke Sergott from Barclays set a target price of $400.0 on 02/11/2026
Brandon Couillard from Wells Fargo set a target price of $355.0 on 02/11/2026
Derik De Bruin from B of A Securities set a target price of $350.0 on 02/10/2026
Subbu Nambi from Guggenheim set a target price of $440.0 on 02/10/2026

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.