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Investing.com - Bernstein maintained its Outperform rating and $400.00 price target on Waters Corp . (NYSE:WAT) despite a 14% stock decline following the company’s merger announcement with BD’s biosciences and diagnostic businesses. According to InvestingPro data, the stock has fallen over 17% in the past week, with the RSI indicating oversold territory. Waters maintains a "GOOD" overall financial health score, suggesting fundamental strength despite recent market reaction.
Waters announced Monday it has signed a definitive agreement to merge with Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX)’s biosciences and diagnostic units through a Reverse Morris Trust transaction valued at approximately $17.5 billion. The transaction, expected to close around the end of Q1 2026, will create an entity where Waters holds a 60.8% share and BD a 39.2% share. With a current market capitalization of $17.2 billion and robust gross profit margins of 59%, Waters brings significant financial strength to the merger. Get deeper insights into Waters’ financial position with InvestingPro’s comprehensive research report.
The planned deal will be financed with a mix of debt and stock, with BD receiving a $4 billion cash distribution and Waters assuming approximately $4 billion in incremental debt. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, Waters shareholder approval, and other customary closing conditions. Waters currently operates with a moderate debt level and strong cash flows that can sufficiently cover interest payments, as highlighted by InvestingPro’s financial health analysis.
Bernstein analyst Eve Burstein examined the durability of growth in BD’s markets, noting that the projected mid-to-high single-digit growth in flow cytometry appears reasonable based on historical performance. The firm also noted that while BD diagnostics have been relatively flat for the past four years, low single-digit growth in microbiology and high single-digit growth in molecular diagnostics would be expected in normal market conditions.
Regarding Waters’ ability to execute on projected synergies, Bernstein observed real improvements in salesforce effectiveness since Udit Batra joined as CEO, though the firm remains cautious about execution on a transaction of this scale.
In other recent news, Waters Corporation announced a $17.5 billion merger with Becton Dickinson’s Biosciences and Diagnostics business. This significant transaction is expected to be accretive to Waters’ adjusted earnings per share in the first year and aims to achieve substantial cost and revenue synergies by 2030. Analysts have reacted to the merger with varying perspectives. UBS reiterated its Neutral rating with a $360 price target, expressing uncertainty about the long-term growth of the acquired assets. Stifel also maintained a Hold rating, noting the strategic rationale of the acquisition but highlighting the increased complexity for Waters. BofA Securities lowered its price target from $375 to $330, citing concerns about the valuation and quality of the acquired assets. On a more optimistic note, Scotiabank (TSX:BNS) raised its price target for Waters to $465, citing favorable growth prospects and strong sector positioning. These developments indicate diverse analyst views on Waters’ recent strategic moves.
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