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DHR vs WAT
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Danaher Corporation (DHR) vs. Waters Corporation (WAT) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both DHR and WAT have posted solid year-to-date (YTD) gains in recent market activity, with DHR leading at approximately 23% compared to WAT's 19%.
- DHR, with a market cap exceeding $120 billion, offers greater scale and stability (beta of 0.84) versus WAT's $30 billion cap and higher beta of 1.14.
- DHR recently beat Q1 earnings per share (EPS) estimates and raised full-year guidance, boosting sentiment amid bioprocessing demand.
- WAT approaches its upcoming earnings with positive analyst expectations, supported by prior beats and focus on analytical tools.
- Valuation metrics show WAT at a lower price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 29 versus DHR's 34, suggesting relative value in WAT.
- Relative performance highlights DHR's diversification edge over WAT's specialized focus.
Introduction
Danaher Corporation (DHR) and Waters Corporation (WAT) are key players in the life sciences tools sector, providing instruments and services for diagnostics, bioprocessing, and analytical chemistry. This comparison is particularly relevant for investors tracking healthcare equipment stocks amid ongoing innovation in biotech and pharmaceuticals. Traders focused on relative performance, sector momentum, and upcoming catalysts will find insights into how these peers stack up in the current market environment, highlighting differences in scale, volatility, and growth trajectories.
DHR Overview and Recent Performance
Danaher Corporation (DHR) is a global conglomerate specializing in life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental applied solutions, with segments including biotechnology, diagnostics, and life sciences. In recent weeks, DHR shares have traded around $175, reflecting YTD gains of over 23% despite broader market pressures. The company's Q1 2026 results showed adjusted EPS of $2.06, surpassing estimates, with core revenue growth in bioprocessing and diagnostics driving sentiment. Raised full-year guidance to $8.35-$8.55 adjusted EPS underscores resilience, though a $908 million charge tempered headline figures. Factors like accelerated demand in life sciences and strategic debt raises for acquisitions have influenced recent price stabilization and positive analyst views.
WAT Overview and Recent Performance
Waters Corporation (WAT) focuses on analytical instruments, particularly chromatography and mass spectrometry systems used in pharmaceuticals and research. Shares have hovered near $307 lately, with YTD returns around 19% amid sector volatility. Approaching its Q1 2026 earnings on May 5, analysts anticipate EPS of $2.31, building on Q4 2025 beats where sales grew 7%. Recent market activity shows resilience in drug discovery demand, though organic growth challenges have pressured margins. Positive earnings surprise history and optimism around instrumentation backlogs have supported sentiment, positioning WAT for potential upside post-report.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
DHR and WAT operate in overlapping life sciences tools but differ in business models: DHR's diversified portfolio spans diagnostics and biotech, reducing sector-specific risks, while WAT emphasizes niche analytical systems with higher growth potential in pharma R&D. Growth drivers include bioprocessing for DHR and instrumentation demand for WAT, with recent momentum favoring DHR's earnings beat over WAT's anticipation. Risk factors highlight WAT's higher beta and debt-to-equity, contrasting DHR's stability. Sector exposure is similar, but market sentiment leans toward DHR's scale amid trade-offs in valuation and volatility.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward DHR with higher probability in the near term, citing consistent trend strength from recent earnings beats, raised guidance, and lower volatility relative to WAT. While WAT offers attractive valuation and earnings potential, DHR's diversification and stability position it better amid uncertain catalysts.
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 Limitations
To 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 DHR is a StrongBuy and WAT is a Hold.
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).
DHR’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileWAT’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- DHR’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- WAT’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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.
DHR’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WAT’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DHR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WAT’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
DHR (@Medical Specialties) experienced а +0.89% price change this week, while WAT (@Medical Specialties) price change was -4.75% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was -3.28%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +13.41%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.34%.
Reported Earning Dates
DHR is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
WAT is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Specialties (-3.28% 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.
| DHR | WAT | DHR / WAT | |
| Capitalization | 130B | 35.9B | 362% |
| EBITDA | 7.08B | 1.03B | 687% |
| Gain YTD | -19.320 | -3.810 | 507% |
| P/E Ratio | 35.72 | 46.48 | 77% |
| Revenue | 24.8B | 3.17B | 784% |
| Total Cash | 5.7B | 588M | 970% |
| Total Debt | 18.5B | 1.49B | 1,241% |
DHR | WAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 28 | 37 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 8 Undervalued | 72 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 82 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 81 | 34 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 47 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 55 | 20 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 21 | 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.
DHR's Valuation (8) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WAT (72). This means that DHR’s stock grew somewhat faster than WAT’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's Profit vs Risk Rating (82) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as DHR (100). This means that WAT’s stock grew similarly to DHR’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's SMR Rating (34) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DHR (81). This means that WAT’s stock grew somewhat faster than DHR’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's Price Growth Rating (47) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as DHR (58). This means that WAT’s stock grew similarly to DHR’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's P/E Growth Rating (20) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DHR (55). This means that WAT’s stock grew somewhat faster than DHR’s over the last 12 months.
| DHR | WAT | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 57% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 63% | 3 days ago 69% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 61% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 54% | 10 days ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 64% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 58% |
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WAT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WAT has been closely correlated with A. These tickers have moved in lockstep 67% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if WAT jumps, then A could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To WAT | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAT | 100% | -2.95% | ||
| A - WAT | 67% Closely correlated | -2.12% | ||
| RVTY - WAT | 63% Loosely correlated | -3.94% | ||
| TMO - WAT | 59% Loosely correlated | -1.91% | ||
| BRKR - WAT | 58% Loosely correlated | -5.97% | ||
| RGEN - WAT | 56% Loosely correlated | -3.35% | ||
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