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On Monday, Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) stock rating was upgraded by KeyBanc from Sector Weight to Overweight, with a new price target set at $460.00. This adjustment comes after the analyst’s recent visit to the company’s facilities in Cambridge, MA, which reinforced their optimism about the company’s prospects. With a current market capitalization of $21.5 billion and trading at $362.16, InvestingPro data shows the stock trading at a P/E ratio of 33.7x, suggesting premium valuation levels.
Waters Corporation, known for its specialized instruments for the scientific community, has been steering towards an impressive growth trajectory, especially within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing sectors. The company’s guidance suggests organic growth in constant currency of 4.5-7.0% by 2025, outpacing the lower single to mid-single-digit growth of its peers. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains strong financial health with a current ratio of 2.11 and has achieved a 7% revenue growth in the last twelve months.
The acquisition of Wyatt Technology in 2023 has been highlighted as a significant contributor to Waters Corporation’s growth. Wyatt Technology’s instruments are integral for the characterization of biologics. However, this acquisition is just one aspect of a broader biologics portfolio that now accounts for approximately 35% of the company’s Pharmaceutical (TADAWUL:2070) revenue.
Waters Corporation’s strong position in the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) market for biopharmaceuticals and GLP-1s has been particularly noted by KeyBanc. The company’s long-term goal is to achieve high single-digit growth, with even higher growth anticipated during periods of technological upgrades.
The positive outlook presented by KeyBanc is based on Waters Corporation’s strategic positioning and recent performance. The company’s focus on biopharma manufacturing is expected to yield returns and drive its outperformance in relation to its industry peers.
In other recent news, Waters Corporation has been the focus of several analyst updates following its Investor Day event. Baird analyst Catherine Schulte upgraded Waters Corp .’s stock rating to Outperform and increased the price target to $407, citing confidence in the company’s long-term revenue and margin prospects. Schulte noted the potential strength in the liquid chromatography segment and highlighted limited exposure to NIH funding as a positive factor. Meanwhile, Stifel maintained a Hold rating with a $360 price target, acknowledging the company’s growth potential but expressing concerns over the stock’s valuation.
TD Cowen also reiterated a Hold rating with a $410 target, recognizing the company’s high single-digit growth prospects and margin expansion plans. Despite the high valuation, TD Cowen noted that stable valuation multiples, combined with robust sales growth, could present an attractive situation for investors. Leerink Partners raised their price target to $430 while maintaining an Outperform rating, reflecting confidence in Waters Corp.’s growth trajectory and strategic initiatives. Bernstein also maintained an Outperform rating with a $430 target, emphasizing the company’s strong performance in the fourth quarter and suggesting potential positive revisions to forecasts.
These recent developments highlight Waters Corp.’s strategic focus and growth potential, as well as varying perspectives on its valuation and market position.
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