Prudential Financial Inc. Raises Stake in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT)

Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) by 5.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 38,603 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 2,027 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc.’s holdings in Waters were worth $14,321,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Waters in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its position in Waters by 235.7% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of Waters by 129.3% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 94 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Waters by 54.3% in the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 125 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the period. Finally, R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Waters in the fourth quarter valued at about $63,000. 94.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waters Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE WAT opened at $370.19 on Friday. 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 stock’s 50 day moving average price is $388.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $372.08. Waters Co. has a 52-week low of $279.24 and a 52-week high of $423.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.56, a PEG ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 1.00.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.02 by $0.08. Waters had a return on equity of 46.31% and a net margin of 21.56%. On average, analysts anticipate that Waters Co. will post 12.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on WAT shares. Bank of America reduced their price target on Waters from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Waters from $405.00 to $410.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Baird R W raised shares of Waters from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird raised shares of Waters from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $396.00 to $407.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Waters from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and raised their target price for the company from $430.00 to $450.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $397.40.

Waters 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.