Waters Corporation (WAT) Fair Value 2026

WAT · Diagnostics & Research ·

By CirclFi Research Team · Data from SEC EDGAR, FRED & GDELT

Quality Score

7.7 /10

32 fundamental signals · 10 models active

Value Trap Risk

SAFE (17/100)

Quick Summary — As of 2026-08-28, Waters Corporation (WAT) trades at $414.69, versus a $85.62 median fair value across its 10 active models — 79.4% below the current price. QOC: 7.7/10. Value Trap Risk: 17/100 (SAFE). 10/13 models active. Within that set, the Bayesian DCF component alone returns $27.31.

Key Facts

Ticker
WAT
Price
$414.69
Quality Score
7.7/10
Value Trap Risk
17/100
Models Active
10/13
Last Updated
Strength: 10 independent models provide multi-angle coverage
Risk: Majority of models suggest overvaluation

Is Waters Corporation (WAT) Undervalued or Overvalued in 2026?

According to CirclFi’s 10-model valuation engine, Waters Corporation (WAT) appears overvalued as of : the median of 10 independent fair value estimates is $85.62, 79.4% below the current price of $414.69. Estimates range from $27.31 to $590.61. WAT scores 7.7/10 on fundamental quality and 17/100 on value-trap risk.

For context, the median US equity CirclFi rates trades at an implied -23.4% versus its own 13-model consensus, across 3,809 rated companies as of 2026-08-28. WAT’s -79.4% gap is wider than that market norm, and the Diagnostics & Research sector median is -55.6%. Full market index →

This verdict compares price to intrinsic value only — it is not a buy or sell rating. For the decision case (bull vs bear arguments, risk factors, peers), read Should You Buy Waters Corporation Stock in 2026? →

What Fair Value Does Each Model Give WAT?

10 Intrinsic Value Models vs. Current Price ($414.69)

Core Models (Unlocked)
Model Fair Value Upside
Intrinsic · High Conviction
 $27.31 -93.4%
Intrinsic · High Conviction
 $32.42 -92.2%
Ensemble · Low Conviction
 $93.16 -77.5%
Scenario · High Conviction
 $189.97 -54.2%
Unlock the Full Matrix

Access 6 additional models including EROIC Spread, ML-RIV, and more.

$1.30 / day

Billed monthly ($39/mo) or annually ($299/yr)

Unlock All 10 Models →

Cancel anytime · No contracts · Instant access

What Is WAT's Fair Value Range?

Spread across 10 independent models · $27.31 to $590.61

CirclFi's 10 active models place Waters Corporation (WAT) between $27.31 and $590.61 per share, a spread of 658% of the median. The median of that range — $85.62 — is the fair value CirclFi publishes for WAT, against a current price of $414.69.

Low · Bayesian DCFHigh · Regime Cross
$27.31median $85.62$590.61
Where the range comes from
Most bearish modelBayesian DCF$27.31
Most bullish modelRegime Cross-Sectional$590.61
Model agreement1 bullish · 9 bearishwide

A band this wide is itself the finding. When independent methods land far apart, they are reading a business whose value depends heavily on which lens you apply — volatile earnings, heavy reinvestment, or an asset base that cash-flow and asset-based methods score differently. That disagreement is information: it says the choice of method matters more than usual for WAT. Treat the median as one reading among several and compare the individual models below before acting.

Every figure above is one model's standalone output on WAT, not a CirclFi price target. How each model works →

What Is Waters Corporation (WAT) Worth in 2026?

According to the CirclFi Deep Alpha Valuation Engine, Waters Corporation's intrinsic value is estimated at $85.62. Trading at its current price of $414.69, the valuation engine raises significant caution: 9 of 10 models flag downside risk, projecting a median implied return of -79.4%. Model dispersion is worth noting: Regime Cross targets $590.61 (+42.4%), versus Bayesian DCF at $27.31 (-93.4%). This +135.8% range highlights the importance of multi-model analysis rather than relying on any single methodology. Among models with highest confidence, Bayesian DCF, EPV, EROIC lean bearish — adding weight to the bearish side of the thesis.

What Do the Models Say About WAT?

10 of 13 models are currently active for WAT. Of these, 1 model suggests upside while 9 models suggest overvaluation. Taken together, their median fair value for WAT is $85.62 — the figure CirclFi publishes as this stock's fair value. One component of that median, the Bayesian DCF, returns $27.31 on its own, implying -93.4% downside from the current price. See which stocks rank higher →

How Does WAT Rank in Diagnostics & Research?

Among 52 Diagnostics & Research stocks, WAT ranks #14 by Quality of Company score. CirclFi's QOC score of 7.7/10 evaluates 32 fundamental signals. A score of 7.7 indicates above-average quality.

Waters Corporation's positioning within the Diagnostics & Research segment means that patent cliff exposure plays an outsized role in fundamental analysis. The sector's unique characteristics — including therapeutic area leadership — shape both the opportunity set and risk profile.

Is WAT a Value Trap?

CirclFi's Value Trap algorithm assigns WAT a score of 17/100 (SAFE). This indicates minimal risk. Fundamentals are healthy. The score cross-references apparent undervaluation against fundamental deterioration signals. Browse lowest value-trap stocks →

Multi-Model Methodology

10 of 13 models are active for Waters Corporation. Broad coverage provides high confidence. Each model applies a fundamentally different valuation philosophy. See the complete methodology →

According to the CirclFi Deep Alpha Valuation Engine, Waters Corporation scores 7.7 out of 10 on our 32-signal quality assessment, a strong rating that demonstrates strong fundamentals across the majority of our quality signals. The QOC score synthesizes profitability margins, revenue growth reliability, debt management, and capital allocation into a single metric designed to separate durable businesses from statistically cheap ones.

The gap between the most bullish and bearish model spans +135.8% — demonstrating why single-model analysis is dangerous. Browse all stocks with 13-model coverage →

Data Sources & Confidence

Every WAT valuation is built from SEC EDGAR XBRL filings — 700+ standardized financial tags. Macroeconomic context from FRED calibrates discount rates, while GDELT news sentiment feeds into our Sentiment SOTP model. All pipelines run daily. Read the complete data methodology →

Across WAT's 10 active models, average confidence is 54%. Moderate confidence indicates reasonable fit.

CirclFi's output is a research starting point, not a buy/sell signal. All data updates daily. Read the full methodology →

This analysis is produced by the CirclFi Valuation Engine using quantitative models applied to SEC EDGAR filings, public market feeds, and FRED macroeconomic indicators. It is not financial advice.

Read the full investment analysis: Should You Buy Waters Corporation Stock in 2026? →

Bull case, bear case, risk factors & peer comparison — updated daily

Which Similar Diagnostics & Research Stocks Should You Also Analyze?

10 related Diagnostics & Research stocks with 13-model coverage

BLLNBillionToOne, Inc.QOC 7.7LHLabcorp Holdings Inc.QOC 7.7TMOThermo Fisher Scientific Inc.QOC 7.8LDDDLongduoduo Company LimitedQOC 7.5DGXQuest Diagnostics IncorporatedQOC 7.9NTRANatera, Inc.QOC 7.5XGNExagen Inc.QOC 6.7XWELXWELL, Inc.QOC 5.5IDXXIDEXX Laboratories, Inc.QOC 9.5MEDPMedpace Holdings, Inc.QOC 9.3

Read investment analysis: BLLN · LH · TMO · LDDD · DGX · NTRA · XGN · XWEL · IDXX · MEDP

Which Other Stocks Have a Similar Quality Score to WAT?

7 companies across all industries closest to WAT’s Quality of Company score of 7.7/10.

SBSISouthside Bancshares, Inc.QOC 7.7ASTEAstec Industries, Inc.QOC 7.7SUNSunoco LPQOC 7.7GIIIG-III Apparel Group, Ltd.QOC 7.7NENNew England Realty Associates Limited PartnershipQOC 7.7VRTSVirtus Investment Partners, Inc.QOC 7.7NVDANVIDIA CorporationQOC 10.0

Read investment analysis: SBSI · ASTE · SUN · GIII · NEN · VRTS · NVDA

What Else Do Investors Ask About Waters Corporation’s Valuation?

What is Waters Corporation's intrinsic value in 2026?

CirclFi puts Waters Corporation (WAT)'s intrinsic value at $85.62 — the median of 10 independent model estimates as of 2026-08-28, ranging from $27.31 to $590.61. One component of that median, the Bayesian DCF, runs 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations with jump-diffusion and returns $27.31 on its own. The Quality of Company score is 7.7/10 across 32 fundamental signals. All models use SEC EDGAR filings updated daily. See our methodology page for how each model works.

Is WAT overvalued or undervalued right now?

At $414.69, 1 of 10 active models suggest WAT may be undervalued, while 9 indicate potential overvaluation. The median of all 10 fair value estimates is $85.62, 79.4% below the current price of $414.69 — a consensus view that WAT is overvalued. The assessment depends on which methodology best fits Waters Corporation's business model in Diagnostics & Research.

What does a Quality of Company score of 7.7 mean for WAT?

Waters Corporation's QOC of 7.7/10 reflects 32 fundamental signals: profitability margins, revenue growth consistency, balance sheet leverage, free cash flow generation, and capital allocation efficiency. Scores above 7 indicate strong fundamentals and disciplined management.

How many valuation models does CirclFi run on WAT?

CirclFi analyzes WAT with 13 institutional-grade models daily: Bayesian DCF (Monte Carlo + jump-diffusion), EPV (Greenwald zero-growth), EROIC Spread (McKinsey reinvestment), First Chicago (3-scenario), Markov DDM (regime-switching), ML-RIV (machine learning residual income), Dynamic NAV (asset-based), PWERM (option-theoretic), Regime Cross-Sectional (relative), Sentiment SOTP (hybrid), CUCE Ensemble (meta-model), FTNN Topology (neural network), and RCMH-DCF (conditional regime). Currently 10 of 13 are active for this stock. Read the full methodology →

Which valuation models are most bullish and most bearish on WAT?

Of the 10 models currently active on WAT, Regime Cross-Sectional is the most bullish at $590.61 per share, and Bayesian DCF is the most bearish at $27.31. CirclFi's published fair value for WAT is the median of that range, $85.62, not either extreme. The gap between the two ends equals 658% of the median — a wide spread, meaning the methods genuinely disagree and the median should carry less weight. Browse stocks by value-trap risk →

Is WAT a value trap in 2026?

Waters Corporation's Value Trap score is 17/100 (SAFE). This low score indicates the current valuation is not artificially depressed by fundamental deterioration, suggesting genuine opportunity rather than a trap.

Cite this analysis — “According to CirclFi’s 10-model valuation engine, Waters Corporation (WAT) has a median fair value of $85.62 — 79.4% below the current price of $414.69 — as of 2026-08-28.” Source: circlfi.com/stock/WAT/ · Methodology
Primary sources for this WAT valuation
  • Financial statements: Waters Corporation 10-K and 10-Q filings on SEC EDGAR (CIK 0001000697) — 700+ standardized XBRL tags, published by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Discount-rate inputs: FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — risk-free rates, VIX, yield curve, inflation.
  • News sentiment: The GDELT Project — global media tone, input to the Sentiment SOTP model.
  • Model definitions: CirclFi methodology — the published specification for all 13 models, including the academic sources each one implements.

Market data for WAT as of ; valuations recomputed .

You’ve done the research. Don’t stop at half the picture.

Stop collecting opinions. Let 10 mathematical frameworks give you clarity on WAT.

Unlock All 10 Fair Values — $39/mo

Cancel anytime · Less than a cup of coffee · Instant access

6 models hidden for WAT Unlock All 10 — $39/mo