BNP Paribas Financial Markets Increases Stock Holdings in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) by 45.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 109,314 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 34,209 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned about 0.18% of Waters worth $40,553,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in Waters in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Waters during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its holdings in shares of Waters by 235.7% during the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Waters by 129.3% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the period. Finally, Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp purchased a new position in Waters in the 4th quarter worth $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.01% of the company’s stock.

Waters Stock Up 1.8 %

NYSE WAT opened at $344.99 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $350.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $369.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $20.53 billion, a PE ratio of 32.21, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 1.14. Waters Co. has a 52 week low of $279.24 and a 52 week high of $423.56.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.22 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $661.71 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $655.50 million. Waters had a net margin of 21.56% and a return on equity of 46.31%. Waters’s revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.21 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Waters Co. will post 12.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on WAT shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Waters from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Waters from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Waters from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $430.00 to $450.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Waters from $380.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Waters from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $390.19.

Waters Company 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.