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STE vs WAT
Which Stock Would AI Choose? STERIS plc (STE) vs. Waters Corporation (WAT) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- STE shares have declined about 18% year-to-date, underperforming broader indices amid market pressures, while WAT is down roughly 7% YTD but showed strong post-earnings momentum.
- WAT reported robust Q1 2026 results with adjusted EPS of $2.70 (up 20% YoY) and raised full-year guidance, boosted by its acquisition of Becton Dickinson's biosciences unit.
- STE approaches its fiscal Q4 earnings on May 12, with analysts anticipating $1.60 billion revenue and $2.89 EPS, alongside a recent board appointment and $0.63 dividend declaration.
- Both operate in healthcare but differ in focus: STE on infection prevention and sterilization (STE), WAT on analytical instruments post-acquisition.
- Market cap stands at ~$20B for STE and ~$35B for WAT, with WAT exhibiting higher recent volatility and upside analyst targets averaging ~$395.
- Relative performance highlights WAT's stronger recent momentum driven by growth catalysts versus STE's stability challenges.
Introduction
This stock comparison between STERIS plc (STE) and Waters Corporation (WAT) examines two healthcare firms navigating distinct market dynamics. Both companies serve critical needs in medical and life sciences sectors, making them relevant for investors seeking exposure to resilient healthcare subsectors amid economic uncertainty. Traders focused on earnings catalysts, acquisition integration, and relative performance may find value in analyzing their recent trajectories, sector positioning, and growth prospects. This analysis draws on current market data to highlight contrasts in momentum, valuation, and sentiment for informed decision-making in today's volatile environment.
STE Overview and Recent Performance
STERIS plc (STE), an Ireland-domiciled firm headquartered in Ohio, leads in infection prevention and sterilization solutions. It operates through Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies (AST), and Life Sciences segments, generating ~$5.8 billion in trailing twelve-month (TTM) revenue. The company provides sterilizers, washer-disinfectors, and services for hospitals and biopharma sites worldwide.
In recent market activity, STE shares traded around $207, reflecting a year-to-date decline of approximately 18% and a 52-week range of $195-$269. Recent weeks saw downward pressure, with shares down ~8% over the past month, influenced by broader healthcare sector rotations and tariff concerns noted in prior reports. Sentiment has been tempered by YTD underperformance versus the S&P 500's gains, though strategic moves like appointing Pierre Boulud to the board and declaring a $0.63 per share dividend signal governance strength. Investors await fiscal Q4 results, expected to show steady revenue growth amid core demand for sterilization products.
WAT Overview and Recent Performance
Waters Corporation (WAT), based in Massachusetts, specializes in analytical workflow solutions including liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry systems. Post its major acquisition of Becton Dickinson's biosciences and diagnostics units, it now emphasizes life sciences tools across Waters and TA segments, with TTM revenue at ~$3.8 billion.
Recent trading placed WAT shares near $355, down ~7% year-to-date within a 52-week range of $275-$414. However, momentum shifted positively after Q1 2026 earnings, where reported revenue hit $1.27 billion (up 91% YoY including acquisitions) and adjusted EPS rose 20% to $2.70, beating estimates. The company raised full-year organic growth guidance to 6.5-8% and adjusted EPS to $14.40-$14.60, fueled by synergies and strong legacy business performance. This has lifted sentiment, with shares gaining in recent sessions despite YTD lag, as integration progress counters prior volatility.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
STE and WAT both anchor in healthcare but diverge in models: STE's service-heavy sterilization focus offers recurring revenue stability (70% from Healthcare Services), contrasting WAT's instrument-centric approach enhanced by diagnostics via acquisition for diversified life sciences exposure.
Growth drivers differ—STE relies on procedural demand and biopharma sterilization amid tariff risks, while WAT benefits from acquisition synergies and pharma/academia tools. Recent momentum favors WAT with post-earnings gains and raised guidance versus STE's YTD declines and pre-earnings caution. Risk profiles show STE's lower beta (~0.76) for defensiveness, but WAT's higher volatility ties to integration execution.
Sector exposure overlaps in life sciences yet STE emphasizes infection control (essential post-pandemic), WAT analytical precision. Market sentiment tilts toward WAT's catalysts, with analyst targets implying ~30% upside versus STE's ~32%, though STE's dividend yields ~1.2% for income trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors WAT based on superior trend consistency from earnings beats, upward guidance revisions, and acquisition-driven positioning. WAT's relative strength in recent market activity, coupled with observable momentum in life sciences tools, suggests higher probabilistic outperformance versus STE's stability amid pending results and sector headwinds. This assessment weighs catalysts and sentiment without guaranteeing outcomes.
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 STE 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).
STE’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileWAT’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- STE’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.
STE’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WAT’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- STE’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WAT’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
STE (@Medical/Nursing Services) experienced а -1.60% price change this week, while WAT (@Medical Specialties) price change was +0.14% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical/Nursing Services industry was -0.52%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.27%, and the average quarterly price growth was -16.56%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was +0.45%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.48%, and the average quarterly price growth was -3.19%.
Reported Earning Dates
STE is expected to report earnings on Aug 10, 2026.
WAT is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical/Nursing Services (-0.52% weekly)The medical/nursing services includes companies that provide medical-related services such as ambulance services, dialysis centers, respiratory therapy, blood testing and rehabilitation services. DaVita Inc., Chemed Corporation and Guardant Health, Inc. are examples of companies in this industry.
@Medical Specialties (+0.45% 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.
| STE | WAT | STE / WAT | |
| Capitalization | 19.8B | 35.1B | 56% |
| EBITDA | 1.59B | 991M | 161% |
| Gain YTD | -19.402 | -5.681 | 341% |
| P/E Ratio | 25.27 | 45.58 | 55% |
| Revenue | 5.94B | 3.77B | 157% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 462M | - |
| Total Debt | 2.09B | 5.57B | 37% |
STE | WAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 68 | 71 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 8 Undervalued | 73 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 84 | 84 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 67 | 85 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 49 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 83 | 21 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 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.
STE's Valuation (8) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WAT (73). This means that STE’s stock grew somewhat faster than WAT’s over the last 12 months.
STE's Profit vs Risk Rating (84) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as WAT (84). This means that STE’s stock grew similarly to WAT’s over the last 12 months.
STE's SMR Rating (67) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as WAT (85). This means that STE’s stock grew similarly to WAT’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's Price Growth Rating (49) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as STE (62). This means that WAT’s stock grew similarly to STE’s over the last 12 months.
WAT's P/E Growth Rating (21) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for STE (83). This means that WAT’s stock grew somewhat faster than STE’s over the last 12 months.
| STE | WAT | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 68% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 69% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | 2 days ago 69% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 61% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 19 days ago 49% | 8 days ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 55% | 6 days ago 64% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 55% |
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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% | +0.79% | ||
| A - WAT | 67% Closely correlated | -0.45% | ||
| RVTY - WAT | 63% Loosely correlated | -0.96% | ||
| TMO - WAT | 59% Loosely correlated | -0.13% | ||
| BRKR - WAT | 58% Loosely correlated | -1.14% | ||
| RGEN - WAT | 56% Loosely correlated | -4.05% | ||
More | ||||