Waters (NYSE:WAT) Given New $410.00 Price Target at UBS Group

Waters (NYSE:WAT) had its target price raised by UBS Group from $405.00 to $410.00 in a report published on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. UBS Group currently has a neutral rating on the medical instruments supplier’s stock.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on WAT. Cfra set a $389.00 price target on shares of Waters in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Waters from $332.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America dropped their price target on Waters from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Scotiabank upgraded Waters from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $430.00 to $450.00 in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Waters from $380.00 to $415.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waters currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $390.40.

Waters Trading Down 2.5 %

Shares of WAT stock opened at $369.71 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $21.95 billion, a PE ratio of 35.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.37 and a beta of 1.01. Waters has a 52-week low of $279.24 and a 52-week high of $423.56. The business’s fifty day moving average is $389.84 and its 200 day moving average is $364.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 2.02.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.02 by $0.08. Waters had a return on equity of 49.93% and a net margin of 21.43%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Waters will post 11.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waters

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Waters during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new stake in Waters in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Waters during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Waters during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its stake in Waters by 235.7% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.01% of the company’s stock.

About Waters

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.