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A vs WAT
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Agilent Technologies (A) vs. Waters Corporation (WAT) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both A and WAT operate in the life sciences and analytical instrumentation sector, with exposure to pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and applied markets.
- A delivered a solid Q2 earnings beat with 10% revenue growth and raised full-year guidance, positioning the stock near 52-week highs ahead of its late-August earnings release.
- WAT reported Q2 revenue of $1.645 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.05, both beating estimates, while raising full-year organic growth and EPS outlooks following a major acquisition integration.
- A has shown consistent organic performance and analyst support, with recent price-target increases, while WAT benefits from acquisition-driven scale but reported a GAAP net loss due to one-time items.
- Relative momentum favors both names in recent weeks, though A trades at a lower valuation multiple compared with WAT amid similar sector tailwinds.
- Market sentiment remains constructive for both, supported by broad-based demand recovery in pharma and diagnostics end markets.
Introduction
Agilent Technologies (A) and Waters Corporation (WAT) are established players in the life sciences tools and services industry, providing analytical instruments, consumables, and services primarily to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics customers. This comparison examines their recent stock performance, business drivers, and market positioning to assist investors and traders evaluating relative opportunities within the sector. The analysis draws on observable financial metrics, earnings trends, and analyst commentary from the past several weeks, offering a balanced view suitable for those monitoring healthcare instrumentation equities.
A Overview and Recent Performance
Agilent Technologies provides instruments, software, and services for chemical analysis, life sciences, and diagnostics applications. In recent market activity, the stock has traded near 52-week highs around $160 following a strong second-quarter earnings report that featured 10% reported revenue growth to approximately $1.835 billion and a non-GAAP EPS beat. Management raised full-year guidance, citing broad-based demand across its reporting segments. Analyst sentiment has remained supportive, with several firms raising price targets. Upcoming third-quarter results scheduled for late August represent a near-term catalyst that could influence short-term price behavior amid ongoing recovery in end markets.
WAT Overview and Recent Performance
Waters Corporation specializes in analytical instruments, primarily chromatography and mass spectrometry systems, along with consumables and services for pharmaceutical and clinical applications. Recent performance reflects the impact of its acquisition of the Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business, which contributed significantly to second-quarter reported revenue of $1.645 billion. Adjusted EPS of $3.05 exceeded consensus estimates, prompting the company to raise full-year organic growth guidance to 7%-9% and adjusted EPS outlook. The stock has approached 52-week highs near $420 despite a GAAP net loss tied to acquisition-related costs. Sentiment has been bolstered by integration progress and end-market strength in recent weeks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Agilent Technologies and Waters Corporation share overlapping exposure to pharmaceutical and diagnostics customers but differ in scale and recent catalysts. A emphasizes a diversified portfolio across life sciences, cross-lab services, and applied markets with steady organic growth, while WAT has accelerated revenue through a transformative acquisition that boosts reported figures yet introduces integration and accounting complexities. Valuation metrics show A trading at a comparatively lower price-to-earnings multiple than WAT. Momentum in recent weeks has been positive for both, supported by earnings beats and raised outlooks, though WAT faces greater variability from acquisition accounting. Risk factors include end-market cyclicality for both, with A appearing more insulated from one-time charges.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable trend consistency, earnings stability, and positioning ahead of near-term catalysts, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modestly higher probabilistic preference to A over WAT. A’s organic execution and upcoming earnings release provide clearer visibility into sustained performance, while WAT’s acquisition-driven results introduce additional variables despite strong adjusted metrics. This assessment reflects relative factor weighting and remains subject to evolving market data.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Disclaimers and LimitationsTo compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is A is a StrongBuy and WAT is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
A’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileWAT’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- A’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- WAT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
A’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WAT’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- A’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WAT’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
A (@Medical Specialties) experienced а -3.13% price change this week, while WAT (@Medical Specialties) price change was -2.08% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was +1.08%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +11.48%, and the average quarterly price growth was +31.94%.
Reported Earning Dates
A is expected to report earnings on Nov 30, 2026.
WAT is expected to report earnings on Nov 03, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Specialties (+1.08% weekly)Medical specialties are companies that make equipment used by the health care industry. Equipment manufactured and distributed by these companies include dialysis machines, blood analysis equipment, surgical equipment, dental instruments, and diagnostic tools, among other items. Large companies typically aim to produce and distribute high-quality products across a broad market spectrum. Smaller firms are more likely to specialize in a particular market segment. Due to the industry’s close association with medical treatments, they typically have low sensitivity to macroeconomic fluctuations. Within this industry, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. are some of the companies with multi-billion market capitalizations in the U.S. stock markets.
| A | WAT | A / WAT | |
| Capitalization | 42.3B | 39.8B | 106% |
| EBITDA | 1.96B | 991M | 198% |
| Gain YTD | 10.848 | 6.848 | 158% |
| P/E Ratio | 29.57 | 102.74 | 29% |
| Revenue | 7.23B | 3.77B | 192% |
| Total Cash | 1.81B | 462M | 391% |
| Total Debt | 3.36B | 5.57B | 60% |
A | WAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 24 | 24 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 10 Undervalued | 75 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 98 | 95 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 44 | 83 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 17 | 14 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 3 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 13 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
A's Valuation (10) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WAT (75) in the Medical Specialties industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than WAT’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's Profit vs Risk Rating (95) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as A (98) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that WAT’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
A's SMR Rating (44) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WAT (83) in the Medical Specialties industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than WAT’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's Price Growth Rating (14) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as A (17) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that WAT’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's P/E Growth Rating (3) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for A (42) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that WAT’s stock grew somewhat faster than A’s over the last 12 months.
| A | WAT | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 74% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 63% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 62% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 60% | 9 days ago 61% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 64% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 54% |
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