Waters Corporation (WAT) shares fell 1.6% to $414.69 as of August 30, 2026, a modest decline from the prior close of $421.26. BestStocks flagged the session as a major change for WAT. The move is tied to price move up. Below, we break down what changed for WAT, why it matters for investors, how the stock reacted, and the catalysts on the calendar.
What happened
WAT fell 1.6% to $414.69
WAT fell 1.6% in its latest session, moving from $421.26 to $414.69.
Material / EarningsWeak confidence
Rel. volume
0.4×
Below Avg
Vs peers
—
No comparable peers
Market cap
$31.0B
New York Stock Exchange
Analyst target
$428
+3.2% vs price
Price chart
Jul 30 – Aug 28
E earnings
F filing
A analyst
V/N other
click a marker to highlight
Change events — click to jump to details
What it means for Waters Corporation investors
For Waters Corporation investors, the recent signals add up to a bearish shift. On the constructive side: Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +1.48% from $405.77 to $411.77 on 2026-08-10; Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +1.56% from $400.60 to $406.86 on 2026-08-07. Weighing against that: Material negative event; Negative session, down 1.6%. Wall Street's consensus price target sits at $427.91, implying +3.2% upside from $414.69. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 1 upgrade and 0 downgrades. BestStocks rates the overall signal quality weak (37/100). With earnings roughly 65 days out, the next report is the most likely near-term test of the move.
WAT price reaction
WAT last traded at $414.69, down $6.57 (-1.56%) from the previous close of $421.26. The session traded on 0.4× average volume (below avg), so participation was unremarkable. Over the past month the stock has ranged between $374.74 and $421.26, and it currently sits about 86% of the way up that band.
Bullish and bearish analyst opinions on Waters Corporation (WAT)
The consensus analyst price target on Waters Corporation (WAT) is $427.91, 3.2% above the recent $414.69. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 1 upgrade, 11 maintains, and 0 downgrades. Here is how the bullish and bearish cases on WAT line up.
▲ The bullish case
+Wall Street's consensus price target of $427.91 implies +3.2% upside from $414.69.
+The Street's most bullish target is $480.00 (+15.7%).
+1 analyst upgrade in the past 90 days, most recently TD Cowen to Buy (2026-08-05).
+Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +1.48% from $405.77 to $411.77 on 2026-08-10.
▼ The bearish case
−The most bearish analyst target is $375.00 (-9.6%).
−Material negative event.
−Negative session, down 1.6%.
−Waters Corporation (WAT) moved -3.10% from $368.98 to $357.54 on 2026-07-20.
Bull vs bear balanceBearish Shift
BearishNeutralBullish
Weighing both sides, BestStocks' composite read of recent signals is bearish, as the bull-versus-bear meter above shows. This is an educational summary of the bull and bear case, not investment advice.
Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus figures as of Aug 30, 2026; other aggregators may differ. High and low targets show the range of estimates, not forecasts.
Waters Corporation (WAT) rose 2.30% to $423.71, driven by renewed investor attention following an announced presentation at the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference and sustained positive sentiment from August's strong Q2 earnings—revenue of $1.645 billion (+113% YoY) and adjusted EPS of $3.05—paired with raised full-year 2026 guidance. Volume of 174,065 shares (91 minutes in) tracks at 0.88x the historical average for this time of day.
Material / Earnings2026-08-27+1.7%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved -0.23% on August 27, 2026, closing at $421.26—a new 30-day high. The move came amid positive momentum from the company's Q2 earnings report announced earlier in August, which showed revenue surging 113% year-over-year to $1.65 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.05, along with raised full-year 2026 guidance. The company also announced an upcoming presentation at the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference.
Material / Earnings2026-08-12+0.3%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +2.65% from $405.42 to $416.15 on 2026-08-12, reaching a new 30-day high. We checked news, earnings, analyst updates, filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found.
Filings2026-08-11+0.8%
Waters Corporation (WAT) filed a new 10-Q on 2026-08-11, disclosing quarterly financial results and operational updates for the period ended in Q2 2026.
Material / Earnings2026-08-11+0.8%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +0.43% from $413.21 to $415.00 on 2026-08-11, reaching a new 30-day high. We checked news, earnings announcements, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. The move appears to be driven by technical strength, with the stock breaking to a new intraday high on volume near its 5-day average.
Activity2026-08-10+1.2%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +1.48% from $405.77 to $411.77 on 2026-08-10. We checked news, earnings, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. The move coincided with WAT reaching a new 30-day high, though volume remained near its 5-day average.
Activity2026-08-07+1.8%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +1.56% from $400.60 to $406.86 on 2026-08-07. We checked news, earnings, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. The move appears to be technical: WAT reached a new 30-day high, though volume remained near its 5-day average.
Activity2026-08-05+1.0%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +0.29% from $398.86 to $400.00 on 2026-08-05. We checked news, earnings, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. The move appears technical: WAT reached a new 30-day high at $400.00 on volume near its 5-day average.
Upcoming catalysts & outlook
Next earnings
2026-11-03 (est.)
in 65 days
10-Q Filing (est.)
2026-11-10
Medium impact
Thesis shift
Bearish Shift
bearish signal
Risk level
Medium
from change events
Frequently asked questions about WAT
Why did Waters Corporation (WAT) stock move?
WAT fell 1.6% to $414.69. No single company-specific catalyst was confirmed during the move window, and it looks technical.
How much did WAT stock fall?
WAT lost 1.56% ($6.57) versus the prior close of $421.26, last trading at $414.69 on 0.4× average volume.
When is Waters Corporation's next earnings date?
WAT's next earnings report is estimated for 2026-11-03 — about 65 days away.
What is the analyst price target for WAT?
The consensus analyst price target for WAT is $427.91, about 3.2% above the current $414.69. Over the past 90 days, analysts recorded 1 upgrade, 11 maintains, and 0 downgrades.
How BestStocks tracks WAT
This page is generated automatically by BestStocks' change-detection system after price move up was detected and verified against independent data sources. It draws on 19 tracked change events for WAT, cross-checked against the data sources listed below. Price, volume, and market-capitalization figures are the live intraday quote as of August 30, 2026 and refresh as new information is detected; for companies with multiple share classes, market-cap figures can differ by data source. Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus. This is an educational summary of what changed and why — not personalized investment advice.
