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Waters Corporation (WAT) stock analysis
WEAK BUY 19% confidence · analysed Sep 2, 2026
This analysis is from Sep 2, 2026 and may be out of date.
On Sep 2, 2026, our model rated Waters Corporation (WAT) WEAK BUY with 19% confidence at a price of $412.91. That means the signals lean positive, but they are mixed, so conviction is low.
Technical picture
The 14-day RSI is 47, close to the neutral 50 line, so momentum is balanced.
MACD is below its signal line, so short-term momentum is pointing down.
The price is above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, the classic picture of an uptrend.
Volume is only 0.1x its 20-day average; light trading makes the latest move less convincing.
Trend structure and money flow
Market structure: ranging / no clear structure.
The most recent swing high is $414.15 and the swing low is $282.77; traders often treat these as resistance and support.
Price is sitting in a bullish order block, a zone where large buyers stepped in before.
Fundamentals
The PEG ratio is 1.81, which looks reasonably priced for its growth.
The company reports a profit margin of 3.6% and revenue growth of +113.4%.
In its latest quarter it earned $3.05 per share, which beat the $3.01 analysts expected.
Wall Street's average rating is 1.7 on a 1 (strong buy) to 5 (sell) scale, roughly a "buy", with an average price target of $439.48.
The next earnings report is expected around Oct 30, 2026; prices often move sharply around earnings.
Trade plan from the model
The model's long / bullish plan uses an entry near $407.96, a target of $426.07 (+4.4%) and a stop-loss at $382.33 (-6.3%).
That is a reward-to-risk ratio of about 0.7 to 1: the potential loss is bigger than the gain, a weak setup.
The plan has a time limit: reassess by Sep 12, 2026 whatever the price does.
Research notes
Waters Corp. (WAT) has a bull case built on a Q2 2026 beat—adjusted EPS of $3.05 and revenue of $1.65 billion—plus signs of a replacement cycle recovery in analytical instruments and stronger demand that helped drive the stock to a 52-week high after recent analyst upgrades. The bear case is mainly valuation: several sources flag the shares as overvalued or only slightly above fair value, with a high P/E noted and technical readings that are at best neutral to mixed. The recent catalyst was Piper Sandler’s upgrade to Overweight with a raised $480 price target, which followed the earnings beat and renewed optimism on replacement-cycle demand. Wall Street sentiment is still broadly constructive, with the consensus around Moderate Buy and average targets in the low-to-mid $420s**.
The model's one-paragraph read
Leans BUY — composite score +0.19 (WEAK BUY). Technicals: RSI 47.41, MACD bearish, price above SMA50. Fundamentals: PEG 1.81, margin 3.6%, revenue growth 113.4%. Financial results: last EPS surprise +1.3%, next earnings 2026-10-30. Smart Money Concepts: ranging / no clear structure, price retesting a bullish order block, price retesting a bearish order block. FinGPT news read: positive. Internet research: **Waters Corp. (WAT)** has a **bull case** built on a Q2 2026 beat—adjusted EPS of **$3.05** and revenue of **$1.65 billion**—plus signs of a **replacement cycle recovery** in analytical instruments and stronger demand that helped drive the stock to a 52-week high after recent analyst upgrades. The **bear case** is mainly valuation: several sources flag the shares as **overvalued or only slightly above fair value**, with a high P/E noted and technical readings that are at best neutral to mixed. The **recent catalyst** was Piper Sandler’s upgrade to **Overweight** with a raised **$480** price target, which followed the earnings beat and renewed optimism on replacement-cycle demand. Wall Street sentiment is still broadly constructive, with the consensus around **Moderate Buy** and average targets in the low-to-mid **$420s**. Suggested levels: entry $407.96, target $426.07, stop-loss $382.33, exit by 2026-09-12 (10-calendar-day max hold (time-stop; reassess by this date regardless of P&L)).
Past ratings for WAT
| Date | Verdict | Confidence | Price | Move since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | WEAK BUY | 19% | $412.91 | — |
"Move since" compares each call's price with the latest analysed price.
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Frequently asked questions
Is WAT a buy right now?
As of Sep 2, 2026, our automated model rates Waters Corporation (WAT) WEAK BUY with 19% confidence: the signals lean positive, but they are mixed, so conviction is low. This is a model output for education, not personal investment advice.
What is the price target for WAT?
The model's most recent plan targets $426.07 with a stop-loss at $382.33, from an entry near $407.96.
When does Waters Corporation report earnings next?
The next earnings report is expected around Oct 30, 2026.
What does a WEAK BUY rating mean?
A WEAK BUY rating means the signals lean positive, but they are mixed, so conviction is low.
For information and education only. Not investment advice. Ratings are produced by an automated model, can be wrong, and may be out of date. Do your own research; you can lose money investing. The site's author may hold positions in stocks discussed here.