South Dakota Investment Council lessened its stake in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT – Free Report) by 23.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,890 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 900 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Council’s holdings in Waters were worth $951,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in WAT. London Co. of Virginia bought a new stake in Waters in the third quarter worth about $158,723,000. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its stake in Waters by 129.9% during the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 973,537 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $322,017,000 after purchasing an additional 550,112 shares during the last quarter. Findlay Park Partners LLP acquired a new stake in Waters during the third quarter valued at approximately $78,017,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in Waters by 34.3% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 832,895 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $228,388,000 after buying an additional 212,754 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fenimore Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Waters in the third quarter worth approximately $50,897,000. 94.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Waters Trading Down 0.6 %
Shares of NYSE:WAT opened at $308.35 on Friday. Waters Co. has a 12-month low of $231.90 and a 12-month high of $363.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.17 and a beta of 0.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $335.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $306.70.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WAT shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Waters from $290.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Waters from $320.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 4th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Waters from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waters has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $298.67.
View Our Latest Stock Report on WAT
Insider Activity
In other news, Director Linda Baddour sold 500 shares of Waters stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.54, for a total transaction of $177,770.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 2,250 shares in the company, valued at approximately $799,965. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.82% of the company’s stock.
About Waters
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.
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