Waters Corporation operates as an analytical instrument manufacturer in the United States and internationally. The company's Waters division designs, manufactures, sells, and services high performance liquid chromatography, ultra performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry technology systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products, and post-warranty service plans. This division's products are used to detect, identify, monitor, and measure the chemical, physical, and biological composition of materials, as well as to purify a range of compounds. Its products are also used in drug discovery and development, including clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease processes, nutritional safety analysis, and environmental testing. The company's TA division offers thermal analysis, rheometry, and calorimetry instruments, which are used in predicting the suitability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, and viscous liquids for uses in various industrial, consumer goods, and healthcare products, as well as for life science research. The company also develops and supplies software-based products that interface with its instruments. Its products are used by pharmaceutical, life science, biochemical, industrial, nutritional safety, environmental, academic, and governmental customers working in research and development, quality assurance, and other laboratory applications. Waters Corporation was founded in 1958 and is based in Milford, Massachusetts.
Waters meets 3Q profit forecasts MILFORD, Mass. (AP) _ Waters Corp. (WAT) on Tuesday reported third-quarter net income of $124.9 million. On a per-share basis, the Milford, Massachusetts-based company said it had profit of $1.53. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and pretax expenses, were $1.57 per share. The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of $1.57 per share. The maker of products used in drug discovery and development posted revenue of $526.8 million in the period, missing Street forecasts. Eight analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $532.9 million. Waters shares have climbed 17 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has risen slightly more than 5 percent. The stock has climbed 28 percent in the last 12 months.
Analyst Upgrade/Downgrade Update Brokerage firm: Cantor Fitzgerald Change: Coverage Reiterated/Price Target Changed Previous Rating: N/A Current Rating: Buy Previous Price Target: $173 Current Price Target: $170