Exploring Waters Corporation (WAT) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

Ever wondered who's investing in Waters Corporation (WAT) and what's driving their interest? Are you curious about the major players and the overall ownership structure of this analytical instrument giant? With a market capitalization of $19.44 billion and an adjusted operating margin of 31.0% in 2024, Waters Corporation has demonstrated a resilient long-term growth profile. Is this strong performance attracting specific types of investors, and what does it mean for the company's future? Let's delve into the details of Waters Corporation's investor profile, exploring who the key stakeholders are and the factors influencing their investment decisions, based on the latest data from 2024.

Waters Corporation (WAT) Who Invests in Waters Corporation and Why?

Understanding the investor profile of Waters Corporation (WAT) provides valuable insights into the market's perception of the company. Investors are drawn to Waters Corporation for a variety of reasons, influenced by the company's financial health, market position, and growth prospects.

Here's a breakdown of the key investor types, their motivations, and typical investment strategies regarding Waters Corporation:

Key Investor Types: Waters Corporation's investor base is diverse, including retail investors, institutional investors, and hedge funds.

• Retail Investors: These individual investors buy shares for personal investment accounts.
• Institutional Investors: These include mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, and other large entities that invest on behalf of their clients.
• Hedge Funds: These are investment partnerships that use pooled funds and employ different strategies to earn active return, or alpha, for their investors.

Investment Motivations: Investors are attracted to Waters Corporation for several reasons:

• Growth Prospects: The potential for Waters Corporation to increase its earnings and expand its market share.
• Market Position: Waters Corporation's strong standing in the analytical laboratory instrument and consumables industry.

Investment Strategies: The strategies employed by investors in Waters Corporation vary depending on their investment goals and risk tolerance:

• Long-Term Holding: Many institutional investors adopt a long-term holding strategy, maintaining their positions in Waters Corporation for extended periods to benefit from the company's long-term growth and stability.
• Short-Term Trading: Hedge funds and some retail investors may engage in short-term trading, aiming to profit from short-term price fluctuations in Waters Corporation's stock.
• Value Investing: Some investors may view Waters Corporation as undervalued by the market and invest based on the belief that the stock price will eventually reflect its intrinsic value.

To provide a clearer picture, let's consider a hypothetical overview of Waters Corporation's shareholder composition:

Institutional investors form the majority ownership in Waters Corporation. Data from 2024 indicates a substantial portion of Waters Corporation's shares are held by institutions. For instance, mutual funds and investment firms often hold significant positions due to Waters Corporation's inclusion in various indices and its stable performance.

Understanding who invests in Waters Corporation and why helps current and prospective investors gauge market sentiment and make informed decisions. The blend of institutional and retail interest, driven by growth prospects and market leadership, paints a picture of a company with a solid foundation and promising future.

For more insights into Waters Corporation, you might find this resource helpful: Waters Corporation (WAT): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Waters Corporation (WAT) Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders

Institutional ownership in Waters Corporation (WAT) reflects the proportion of the company's shares held by major financial institutions. As of late 2024, institutional investors play a significant role in Waters Corporation's ownership structure.

• Institutional Ownership: As of April 2025, approximately 96.91% of Waters Corporation's shares are held by institutional investors.
• Insider Ownership: Approximately 0.08% of the company is owned by insiders.
• Retail Investors: Approximately 46.79% of Waters Corp. (WAT) stock is held by retail investors.

The ownership structure can impact the company's decision-making, as large institutional investors may exert influence on the company’s management and can also affect the company’s stock price with their buying and selling patterns.

Top Institutional Investors

The largest institutional investors in Waters Corporation (WAT), based on recent filings, include:

• Vanguard Group Inc.: Holds approximately 7,098,668 shares, representing about 11.95% of the company.
• BlackRock, Inc.: Holds approximately 6,483,256 shares, or about 10.91%.
• Fundsmith LLP: Holds approximately 3,634,522 shares, accounting for approximately 6.12%.
• AllianceBernstein L.P.: Holds approximately 2,654,002 shares, representing about 4.47%.
• State Street Corporation: Holds approximately 2,602,002 shares, or about 4.38%.

Changes in Ownership

Recent changes in institutional ownership reflect ongoing adjustments in investment strategies. Some notable changes include:

• BlackRock, Inc.: Increased its holdings by 10% in December 2024.
• AllianceBernstein L.P.: Increased its holdings by 9% in December 2024, acquiring an additional 212,364 shares.
• Geode Capital Management, Llc: Increased its holdings by 2%, acquiring an additional 34,762 shares.
• Massachusetts Financial Services Co /Ma/: Decreased its holdings by -9%, selling 195,625 shares.
• Generation Investment Management Llp: Decreased its holdings by -15.27%, selling 275,756 shares.

Impact of Institutional Investors

Institutional investors can significantly influence Waters Corporation's stock price and corporate strategy. Their actions can reflect confidence in the company’s long-term prospects or concerns about its performance. For example, Waters Corporation's Long Range Plan (LRP) targets a 6% to high single-digit growth rate.

The trends in institutional ownership can provide insights into the overall market sentiment toward Waters Corporation. Active trading and significant changes in shareholdings may lead to increased stock price volatility. Additionally, Waters is focusing on improving profitability. The LRP forecasts a 40 basis points improvement in operating margin, reflecting the company's efforts to enhance operational efficiency.

See also: Waters Corporation (WAT): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

Waters Corporation (WAT) Key Investors and Their Impact on [Company Name]

Understanding the investor profile of Waters Corporation (WAT) provides valuable insights into the company's stability, strategic direction, and potential for growth. The ownership structure comprises a mix of institutional, retail, and individual investors.

Approximately 53.08% of Waters Corporation's stock is held by institutional investors, 0.12% by insiders, and 46.79% by public companies and individual investors.

Here's a detailed look at some of the key investors:

• Vanguard Group Inc: Holding approximately 11.95% of the equities, with 7,098,668 shares valued at approximately $2.6 billion as of December 2024. Vanguard's significant stake makes them a major player in Waters Corporation's investor landscape.
• BlackRock, Inc: Another substantial institutional investor, BlackRock holds around 10.91% of the company, with 6,483,256 shares valued at about $2.4 billion as of December 2024.
• Fundsmith LLP: Holds approximately 6.12% of the company, with 3,634,522 shares valued at approximately $1.34 billion.
• AllianceBernstein L.P.: With a stake of 4.47%, they possess 2,654,002 shares, valued at approximately $979 million.
• State Street Corporation: Holds approximately 4.38% of the company, with 2,602,002 shares.

Other notable institutional holders include Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Generation Investment Management LLP, and Geode Capital Management, LLC.

The influence of these investors on Waters Corporation is considerable. Large institutional investors can significantly impact a company's decision-making processes and stock price through their trading activities and influence on management.

Recent moves by some of these major investors include:

• BlackRock Inc. increased its shares by 10% in December 2024.

Recent insider trading activity includes:

• On May 28, 2024, Richard Fearon engaged in activity valued at $332,900.
• On May 15, 2024, Christopher Kuebler engaged in activity valued at $1,446,560.

Activist investors can also play a role, pushing for changes in capital allocation, operational improvements, and leadership adjustments. While there's no specific activist investor activity highlighted for Waters Corporation, it's worth noting that activist campaigns have been on the rise, particularly in the U.S., with a focus on board changes and operational tweaks.

The ownership structure of Waters Corporation (WAT) is a mix of institutional, retail, and individual investors. Approximately 25.25% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 0.12% is owned by Insiders, and 27.84% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.

Here is a table summarizing the top mutual fund holders of Waters Corporation:

For more insights into Waters Corporation, explore this resource: Waters Corporation (WAT): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

Waters Corporation (WAT) Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

Understanding investor sentiment and market reactions is crucial for gauging the potential trajectory of Waters Corporation (WAT). Examining the moves of major shareholders, analyst perspectives, and overall market behavior provides a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and future prospects. For additional background, you might find this resource helpful: Waters Corporation (WAT): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Institutional ownership often plays a significant role in shaping a company's stock performance. Recent reports indicate notable activity among institutional investors of Waters Corporation (WAT). For instance, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings by 3.5% in the fourth quarter, now owning 355,794 shares valued at $108,008,000. Similarly, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position by 5.5% in the same quarter, holding 165,865 shares worth $50,378,000. These increases suggest a positive outlook from these firms. Conversely, Verition Fund Management LLC initiated a new position in Waters Corporation (WAT) during the fourth quarter, purchasing shares worth $277,000. Such new positions can reflect confidence in the company's potential. Meanwhile, Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. reduced its stake by 74.3% in the fourth quarter, holding 4,741 shares valued at $1,440,000. Significant reductions like this might signal concerns about near-term performance or broader market conditions.

Here's a summary of institutional investor activity:

• Geode Capital Management LLC: Increased holdings by 3.5%.
• Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC: Increased holdings by 5.5%.
• Verition Fund Management LLC: Initiated a new position.
• Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc.: Reduced stake by 74.3%.

These actions by major shareholders often influence market sentiment. An increase in holdings can be interpreted as a positive signal, potentially attracting more investors and driving up the stock price. Conversely, a significant reduction in holdings might raise concerns, leading to a sell-off. The initiation of new positions can also generate interest and confidence in the company.

Analyst perspectives provide additional context to these ownership changes. Analysts at firms like TD Cowen have set a 'hold' rating on Waters Corporation (WAT), while Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage with a 'hold' rating and a $320.00 target price. These ratings suggest a neutral outlook, indicating that analysts see the company as fairly valued at its current levels. On the other hand, Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Waters Corporation (WAT) from $380.00 to $360.00, maintaining an 'outperform' rating. This suggests they still see potential for growth, albeit at a slightly reduced pace. Similarly, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target from $375.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a 'buy' rating, reflecting continued confidence in the stock's long-term prospects.

A summary of recent analyst ratings includes:

• TD Cowen: 'Hold' rating.
• Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: 'Hold' rating, $320.00 target price.
• Robert W. Baird: 'Outperform' rating, price objective lowered from $380.00 to $360.00.
• Stifel Nicolaus: 'Buy' rating, price target lowered from $375.00 to $365.00.

The stock market's reaction to these factors can be telling. Monitoring Waters Corporation (WAT)'s stock performance following major ownership changes or analyst ratings adjustments can provide insights into how the market perceives the company's value and future potential. For example, consistent 'buy' ratings coupled with increased institutional investment might lead to a sustained increase in stock price, while a series of 'sell' ratings and decreased ownership could result in a decline. Keeping an eye on these dynamics helps investors make informed decisions about Waters Corporation (WAT).