Waters: Doing Well, Acquired Activities Not So Much

The Value InvestorInvesting Group LeaderFollow5ShareSavePlay(8min)CommentsSummaryWaters' shares have retreated to the $300 level, presenting a renewed buying opportunity after initial post-acquisition gains evaporated.The $17.5B acquisition of Becton, Dickinson's Biosciences & Diagnostics Solutions expands Waters scale, though acquired business growth appears soft versus initial expectations.Waters guides 2026 sales to $6.405–$6.455B and adjusted EPS to $14.30–$14.50, reflecting early synergies and manageable leverage.At 21x earnings, Waters is not historically cheap, but synergy potential and deleveraging support a more upbeat outlook at current levels.Looking for a helping hand in the market? Members of Value In Corporate Events get exclusive ideas and guidance to navigate any climate. Learn More » Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images Towards the end of 2025, I concluded in my investment group, Value In Corporate Events, that Waters (WAT) found itself in calmer waters. This followed a mega deal to acquire the Biosciences & Diagnostics Solutions business from This article was written byThe Value Investor27.66K FollowersFollowThe Value Investor has a Master of Science with specialization in financial markets and a decade of experience tracking companies via catalytic company events. As the leader of the investing group Value In Corporate Events they provide members with opportunities to capitalize on IPOs, mergers & acquisitions, earnings reports and changes in corporate capital allocation. Coverage includes 10 major events a month with an eye towards finding the best opportunities. Learn more.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in WAT over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.