Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT) had its target price reduced by Goldman Sachs from $135.00 to $134.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, StockTargetPrices.com reports. Goldman Sachs currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) traded down 0.79% during trading on Wednesday, hitting $120.25. 549,962 shares of the company’s stock traded hands. Waters has a 12 month low of $113.98 and a 12 month high of $137.39. The company’s 50 day moving average is $128.64 and its 200-day moving average is $127.19. The stock has a market cap of $9.82 billion and a P/E ratio of 21.28.

Waters (NYSE:WAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 26th. The company reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $1.95 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $587 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $581.90 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.99 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Waters will post $6.27 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, EVP Arthur G. Caputo sold 1,105 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.01, for a total value of $145,871.05. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 88,679 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,706,514.79. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael J. Berendt sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.54, for a total transaction of $522,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 18,700 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,441,098. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Eagle Asset Management purchased a new stake in Waters during the third quarter valued at about $2,736,000. TrimTabs Asset Management purchased a new stake in Waters during the third quarter valued at about $2,034,000. Janus Capital Management raised its stake in Waters by 27.6% in the third quarter. Janus Capital Management now owns 577,087 shares of the company’s stock valued at $68,217,000 after buying an additional 124,806 shares during the period. Pensionfund Sabic raised its stake in Waters by 92.9% in the fourth quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 13,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,817,000 after buying an additional 6,500 shares during the period. Finally, Pensionfund DSM Netherlands raised its stake in Waters by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Pensionfund DSM Netherlands now owns 28,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,768,000 after buying an additional 14,000 shares during the period.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on WAT. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Waters from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Waters to a buy rating and set a $163.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 2nd. Cowen and Company increased their price objective on shares of Waters to $140.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 7th. Avondale Partners assumed coverage on shares of Waters in a research note on Wednesday, January 6th. They issued an outperform rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank assumed coverage on shares of Waters in a research note on Wednesday, January 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $137.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. The stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $142.00.

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is an analytical instrument manufacturer. The Company designs, manufactures, distributes and services instrument systems, columns and other chemistry consumables that are integrated and used along with other analytical instruments. The Company has two segments: Waters Division and TA Division. The Waters Division’s products and services primarily consist of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC and together with HPLC, referred to as LC), mass spectrometry (MS) and chemistry consumable products and related services. TA Division’s products and services primarily consist of thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instrument systems and service sales. The Company’s products are used by pharmaceutical, life science, biochemical, industrial, nutritional safety, environmental, academic and governmental customers working in research and development, quality assurance and other laboratory applications.

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