Should I Buy WAT? WAT 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy Waters Corp (WAT) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Buy

Latest Price

375.180

1 Day change

-2.56%

52 Week Range

423.560

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/26

Waters Corp (WAT) is a good buy for a beginner investor with a long-term investment strategy and $50,000-$100,000 available. The stock shows strong long-term growth potential, supported by positive analyst sentiment, improving sector conditions, and a solid technical setup. Despite short-term financial softness, the company's long-term growth outlook and favorable catalysts outweigh the negatives.

Technical Analysis

The stock's moving averages are bullish (SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200), and the price is near the pivot level of $390.504, with resistance levels at $400.153 and $406.115. However, the MACD is negatively expanding, and RSI is neutral at 48.685, indicating no immediate momentum but a stable setup for long-term entry.

Options Data

Bearish

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bullish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

Analysts have initiated or upgraded coverage with positive ratings and higher price targets (e.g., Guggenheim's $440 target, Wolfe Research's $480 target).
The company is positioned for above-average core growth and operating margin expansion.
Sector overhangs are dissipating, and the company is expected to benefit from improved market conditions in
Upcoming Q4 2025 earnings call on February 12, 2026, could provide further clarity and potential upside.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Hedge funds are selling the stock, with a 125.80% increase in selling activity over the last quarter.
Financial performance in Q3 2025 showed a decline in net income (-7.79% YoY) and EPS (-7.75% YoY), which could weigh on near-term sentiment.
MACD indicates negative momentum in the short term.

Financial Performance

In Q3 2025, Waters Corp reported an 8.05% YoY increase in revenue to $799.89M, but net income and EPS declined by -7.79% and -7.75%, respectively. Gross margin slightly decreased to 57.51% (-0.26% YoY). While revenue growth is promising, profitability metrics showed weakness.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Recent analyst ratings are overwhelmingly positive, with Guggenheim initiating coverage with a Buy rating and a $440 price target, Wolfe Research upgrading to Outperform with a $480 target, and William Blair highlighting improved sector conditions. Analysts generally expect the company to outperform due to its strong growth potential, attractive free cash flow, and capable management team.

10 Analyst Rating

Wall Street analysts forecast WAT stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WAT is 419.78 USD with a low forecast of 360 USD and a high forecast of 480 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

4 Buy

6 Hold

0 Sell

Moderate Buy

Current: 385.030

Low

360

Averages

419.78

High

480

Current: 385.030

Low

360

Averages

419.78

High

480

Guggenheim

Subbu Nambi

initiated

$440

AI Analysis

2026-01-06

Reason

Guggenheim

Subbu Nambi

Price Target

$440

AI Analysis

2026-01-06

initiated

Reason

Guggenheim analyst Subbu Nambi initiated coverage of Waters with a Buy rating and $440 price target.

William Blair

Outperform

initiated

2026-01-05

Reason

William Blair

Price Target

2026-01-05

initiated

Outperform

Reason

William Blair initiated coverage of Waters with an Outperform rating. The firm says the company's key end markets are positioned for a better year for first time since pre-COVID. Results in the sector have bottomed, and most overhangs are either dissipating or flipping from headwinds to tailwinds in 2026, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

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WAT Should I Buy

WAT Should I Buy

Should You Buy Waters Corp (WAT) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

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