Larson Financial Group LLC Grows Position in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT)

Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) by 6.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 537 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 34 shares during the quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Waters were worth $199,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of WAT. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Waters during the 3rd quarter valued at $208,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its position in shares of Waters by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,200 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $432,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc increased its position in shares of Waters by 10.3% during the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 3,141 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,130,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Waters during the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Waters during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. 94.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Waters Stock Down 3.1 %

Shares of NYSE WAT opened at $378.04 on Wednesday. Waters Co. has a 52 week low of $279.24 and a 52 week high of $423.56. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $391.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $369.78. 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 company has a market cap of $22.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.30, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 1.00.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. Research analysts anticipate that Waters Co. will post 12.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WAT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Waters from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. StockNews.com lowered Waters from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Bank of America decreased their target price on Waters from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Barclays raised Waters from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $360.00 to $415.00 in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Waters from $380.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $391.07.

Waters Company 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.