Waters Corporation (WAT) shares fell 1.9% to $421.63 as of September 19, 2026, a modest decline from the prior close of $429.72. BestStocks flagged the session as a major change for WAT. 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 1.9% to $421.63
WAT fell 1.9% in its latest session, moving from $429.72 to $421.63.
ValuationLow confidence
Rel. volume
1.2×
Normal
Vs peers
—
No comparable peers
Market cap
$31.5B
New York Stock Exchange
Analyst target
$438
+4.0% vs price
Price chart
Aug 19 – Sep 18
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 are mixed, leaving the near-term picture neutral / mixed. 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: Negative session, down 1.9%; Waters Corporation (WAT) moved -3.10% from $368.98 to $357.54 on 2026-07-20. Wall Street's consensus price target sits at $438.36, implying +4.0% upside from $421.63. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 3 upgrades and 0 downgrades. BestStocks rates the overall signal quality low (44/100). With earnings roughly 45 days out, the next report is the most likely near-term test of the move.
WAT price reaction
WAT last traded at $421.63, down $8.09 (-1.88%) from the previous close of $429.72. The session traded on 1.2× average volume (normal), so participation was unremarkable. Over the past month the stock has ranged between $401.64 and $429.72, and it currently sits about 71% 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 $438.36, 4.0% above the recent $421.63. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 3 upgrades, 9 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 $438.36 implies +4.0% upside from $421.63.
+The Street's most bullish target is $490.00 (+16.2%).
+3 analyst upgrades in the past 90 days, most recently UBS to Buy (2026-09-09).
+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 $387.00 (-8.2%).
−Negative session, down 1.9%.
−Waters Corporation (WAT) moved -3.10% from $368.98 to $357.54 on 2026-07-20.
Bull vs bear balanceNeutral / Mixed
BearishNeutralBullish
Weighing both sides, BestStocks' composite read of recent signals is roughly balanced, 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 Sep 19, 2026; other aggregators may differ. High and low targets show the range of estimates, not forecasts.
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved -2.83% from $417.67 to $405.84 on 2026-09-01. We checked news, earnings announcements, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. Volume was near its 5-day average, suggesting no unusual trading activity.
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 / Earnings2026-08-21+1.5%
Waters Corporation (WAT) moved +2.55% from $400.50 to $410.70 on 2026-08-21. We checked news, earnings announcements, analyst updates, SEC filings, and corporate actions — no company-specific catalyst was found. Volume remained near its 5-day average, suggesting the move occurred without unusual trading activity.
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.
Upcoming catalysts & outlook
Next earnings
2026-11-03 (est.)
in 45 days
10-Q Filing (est.)
2026-11-10
Medium impact
Thesis shift
Neutral / Mixed
bearish signal
Risk level
Medium
from change events
Frequently asked questions about WAT
Why did Waters Corporation (WAT) stock move?
WAT fell 1.9% to $421.63. No single company-specific catalyst was confirmed during the move window, and it looks technical.
How much did WAT stock fall?
WAT lost 1.88% ($8.09) versus the prior close of $429.72, last trading at $421.63 on 1.2× average volume.
When is Waters Corporation's next earnings date?
WAT's next earnings report is estimated for 2026-11-03 — about 45 days away.
What is the analyst price target for WAT?
The consensus analyst price target for WAT is $438.36, about 4.0% above the current $421.63. Over the past 90 days, analysts recorded 3 upgrades, 9 maintains, and 0 downgrades.
How BestStocks tracks WAT
This page is generated automatically by BestStocks' change-detection system after its price and volume cleared WAT-specific materiality thresholds, triggering an evidence check. It draws on 20 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 September 19, 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.
