WAT (Waters) Moat Score: 7/10 (As of Jun. 29, 2026)


WAT Waters Corp WAT
92 GF Score
Price $374.41
GF Value $417.45
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 7 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Waters Moat Score?

Waters WAT -0.66% 92 Moat Score is 7 as of Jun. 29, 2026. GuruFocus rates WAT with a GF Score™ of 92/100 and a GF Value™ of $417.45 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 216 Medical Diagnostics & Research companies, Waters ranks better than 97.22% on this metric.

Waters has the Moat Score of 7, which implies that the company might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.

Waters has Wide Moat: Waters Corp possesses a durable competitive advantage through its strong brand, proprietary technology, and significant intellectual property. The company benefits from high customer switching costs and a robust distribution network, ensuring a sustainable market position.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Waters might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.

Waters  (NYSE:WAT) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Waters Moat Score Related Terms

WAT vs NTRA, A, IQV: Moat Score Comparison

For the Diagnostics & Research subindustry, Waters's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Waters Moat Score vs Medical Diagnostics & Research Industry

For the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry and Healthcare sector, Waters's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Waters's Moat Score falls into.


WAT
92GF Score
Waters Corp WAT
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 7 mean?
Waters (WAT) has a Moat Score of 7 as of Jun. 29, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Waters ranks #6 out of 216 companies in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, placing it in the top 2.8%.
Is Waters' Moat Score too high?
Waters' current Moat Score is 7. Based on the distribution chart, Waters ranks #6 out of 216 companies in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Waters has a GF Score™ of 92/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Waters' Moat Score compare to NTRA and A?
According to the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry distribution chart, Waters ranks #6 out of 216 companies for Moat Score. This places Waters in the top 3% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Medical Diagnostics & Research company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Waters's current Moat Score is 7. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Waters stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Waters (WAT) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $417.45, compared to a current price of $374.41 — trading 10.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 7. Waters' overall GF Score™ is 92/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Waters (WAT), the current Moat Score is 7 as of Jun. 29, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Waters (WAT) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Waters stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $374.41 is trading 10.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $417.45. GuruFocus considers Waters to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for WAT:

  • Moat Score: 7
  • GF Value™: $417.45 vs. price of $374.41 (10.3% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 92/100 with 7 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the WAT stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Waters Business Description

Address 34 Maple Street, Milford, MA, USA, 01757
Waters sells liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis tools. These analytical instruments provide essential information on various products, such as their molecular structures and physical properties, to help clients enhance the health and well-being of end users. In early 2026, Waters merged with BD's life science and diagnostics business, which increased its concentration in diagnostics (versus none now) and discovery-related life science tools.
92GF Score

Get the complete analysis for WAT

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$374.41
Price
$417.45
GF Value