Key facts
- Waters Corp. raised its annual profit and revenue forecasts.
- The company beat second-quarter Wall Street estimates for profit and revenue.
- Demand for laboratory equipment and diagnostics contributed to the strong results.
- Acquired businesses from Becton Dickinson performed well in their first full quarter under Waters' ownership.
Waters Corp. raised its annual profit and revenue forecasts after exceeding second-quarter Wall Street estimates, driven by increased demand for its laboratory equipment and better-than-expected performance from recently acquired businesses. The company now expects 2026 adjusted profit between $14.45 and $14.65 per share, and revenue between $6.42 billion and $6.48 billion. In the second quarter, Waters reported adjusted profit of $3.05 per share on revenue of $1.65 billion, surpassing analyst expectations. Sales of laboratory instruments rose 5%, while chemicals and testing supplies saw double-digit growth. The biosciences and diagnostics businesses, acquired from Becton Dickinson, generated $817 million in their first full quarter. Waters anticipates third-quarter adjusted profit between $3.95 and $4.05 per share and revenue of $1.75 billion to $1.76 billion. Separately, Pfizer reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, driven by strong demand for Eliquis and recently acquired drugs, and plans for an additional $2.5 billion in savings from cost cutting.