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Waters Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported revenue reached $1.767 billion: Reported revenue was $1.767 billion, made up of $871 million organic revenue and $896 million from the acquired Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions businesses. Source
  • Organic revenue grew 9% as reported: Organic revenue rose from $800 million to $871 million, up 9% as reported and 10% in constant currency. Currency translation reduced reported growth by one point. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 21% to $4.10: Adjusted EPS was $4.10 against $3.40 a year earlier, an increase of 21%. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell on acquisition charges: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.82 against $2.50. The company attributed the gap to purchase accounting charges, acquisition costs and restructuring costs. Source
  • Chemistry consumables grew 12% in constant currency: ASD chemistry consumables revenue was $157 million against $143 million, up 10% as reported and 12% in constant currency. Source
  • LC-MS instrument growth in double digits: Management said LC-MS instrument growth strengthened to double digits in constant currency, citing instrument replacement and growth across GLP-1s, PFAS and India generics. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow fell to $68 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $68 million against $160 million. For the nine months it was $228 million against $552 million. Source
  • MOBILion Systems acquired today: The company said it acquired MOBILion Systems, the pioneer of SLIM ion mobility separation, which separates molecules by size, shape and charge in milliseconds. Source

“With improving end market conditions and momentum accelerating across the combined company”

Dr. Udit Batra, President & Chief Executive Officer, Waters Corporation

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic constant currency revenue growth SourceFull-year 20269.1% to 9.7%Raised from 7.0% to 9.0%
Organic reported revenue SourceFull-year 2026$3.429 billion to $3.447 billionRaised from $3.370 billion to $3.431 billion
Acquired business reported revenue SourceFull-year 2026, owned-period basisapproximately $3.050 billionRaised from approximately $3.045 billion
Total reported revenue SourceFull-year 2026$6.479 billion to $6.497 billionRaised from $6.415 billion to $6.476 billion
Adjusted EPS SourceFull-year 2026$14.60 to $14.70Raised from $14.45 to $14.65
Organic constant currency revenue growth SourceFourth quarter 20267.0% to 9.0%New
Organic reported revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$984 million to $1.002 billionNew
Acquired business reported revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately $817 millionNew
Total reported revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$1.801 billion to $1.819 billionNew
Adjusted EPS SourceFourth quarter 2026$4.58 to $4.68New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year organic constant currency revenue growth guidance raised, from 7.0% to 9.0% to 9.1% to 9.7%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year total reported revenue guidance raised by $43 million at the midpoint, to $6.479 billion to $6.497 billion from $6.415 billion to $6.476 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised to $14.60 to $14.70, from $14.45 to $14.65 previously. Source
  • Guidance raised: Acquired business reported revenue expectation raised to approximately $3.050 billion, from approximately $3.045 billion previously. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth quarter 2026 guidance given for the first time in this release, covering organic constant currency growth, revenue and adjusted EPS. Source
  • New: Company announced it has acquired MOBILion Systems, a developer of SLIM ion mobility separation technology. Source

Third quarter results and growth

  • Reported revenue reached $1.767 billion: Reported revenue was $1.767 billion, made up of $871 million organic revenue and $896 million from the acquired Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions businesses. Source
  • Organic revenue grew 9% as reported: Organic revenue rose from $800 million to $871 million, up 9% as reported and 10% in constant currency. Currency translation reduced reported growth by one point. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 21% to $4.10: Adjusted EPS was $4.10 against $3.40 a year earlier, an increase of 21%. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell on acquisition charges: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.82 against $2.50. The company attributed the gap to purchase accounting charges, acquisition costs and restructuring costs. Source

Segments and regions

  • ASD revenue rose 8% as reported: Analytical Sciences Division revenue was $703 million against $649 million, up 8% as reported and 9% in constant currency, led by instrument and chemistry growth. Source
  • Biosciences Division revenue rose to $396 million: Biosciences Division revenue was $396 million against $387 million in the prior year comparable period. Source
  • Diagnostic Solutions revenue rose slightly: Diagnostic Solutions revenue was $500 million against $498 million. Microbiology grew mid-single-digits on a prior year comparable basis. Source
  • Clinical unit revenue rose to $75 million: The Clinical Business Unit, within the Advanced Diagnostics Division, delivered $75 million against $64 million a year earlier. Source
  • Materials Sciences revenue rose to $93 million: Materials Sciences Division revenue was $93 million against $87 million a year earlier. Source
  • Revenue rose in all three regions: Americas revenue was $749 million against $293 million, Europe $523 million against $237 million, and Asia $495 million against $270 million. Source

“we continued to outperform the market with our leading solutions for complex biologics.”

Dr. Udit Batra, President & Chief Executive Officer, Waters Corporation

Products, instruments and consumables

  • ASD instrument revenue up 10% constant currency: ASD instrument revenue was $282 million against $257 million, up 9% as reported and 10% in constant currency. Source
  • Chemistry consumables grew 12% in constant currency: ASD chemistry consumables revenue was $157 million against $143 million, up 10% as reported and 12% in constant currency. Source
  • Biosciences reagents grew high single-digits: Biosciences reagents grew high single-digits on a prior year comparable basis, a 400bps acceleration; research and clinical reagents both grew high single-digits. Source
  • Product and service revenue both rose: Product revenue was $1,334 million against $500 million, and service revenue was $433 million against $300 million. Source

Costs, margins and interest

  • Adjusted operating margin 30.1%: Adjusted operating income was $532 million, or 30.1% of revenue, against 30.3% a year earlier. Adjusted cost of revenue was $781 million. Source
  • Purchase accounting added to cost of revenue: Cost of revenue included $80 million of purchase accounting adjustments for the BDS inventory and fixed asset step-up. Purchased intangibles amortization was $232 million. Source
  • Net interest expense rose to $53 million: Net interest expense was $53 million against $22 million. Income from operations before income taxes was $74 million against $170 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose: Restructuring charges were $12 million in the quarter and $64 million for the nine months, against nil and $4 million in the prior year periods. Source

Demand and end markets

  • LC-MS instrument growth in double digits: Management said LC-MS instrument growth strengthened to double digits in constant currency, citing instrument replacement and growth across GLP-1s, PFAS and India generics. Source
  • Acquired businesses grew 1% on comparable basis: Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions revenue was $896 million against $885 million on a prior year comparable basis. Source
  • Acquired revenue slightly ahead of guidance: Acquired business revenue landed slightly ahead of the guidance given for the quarter, which was approximately $895 million. Source

Cash flow, debt and capital spending

  • Adjusted free cash flow fell to $68 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $68 million against $160 million. For the nine months it was $228 million against $552 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $98 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $98 million against $187 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $384 million in the quarter. Source
  • TSA receivable built within working capital: Receivables rose $17 million in the quarter and $174 million for the nine months, due from the BDS transition services provider for activities since acquisition. Source
  • Notes payable and debt rose to $5.1 billion: Notes payable and debt was $5,133 million at October 3, 2026, against $1,407 million at December 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents were $593 million. Source
  • Nine-month debt issuance and repayment: The company recorded $4,062 million of debt issuance proceeds and $4,315 million of debt payments for the nine months. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $43 million: Capital additions for property, plant, equipment and software were $43 million in the quarter and $131 million for nine months, against $25 million and $74 million. Source

Share count and repurchases

  • Treasury share purchases totaled $15 million: The company bought back $1 million of treasury shares in the quarter and $15 million for the nine months, the same nine-month amount as the prior year. Source
  • Diluted share count rose to 98.7 million: Weighted-average diluted shares were 98.7 million in the quarter, against 59.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted nine-month share count 93.1 million: Adjusted diluted EPS for the nine months used 93.1 million diluted shares, because adjusted net income was positive while GAAP net income was a loss. Source

Strategy and acquisitions

  • MOBILion Systems acquired today: The company said it acquired MOBILion Systems, the pioneer of SLIM ion mobility separation, which separates molecules by size, shape and charge in milliseconds. Source
  • Proteomics entry expected to broaden: Management said the acquisition complements its mass spectrometry portfolio and is expected to broaden its entry into the proteomics market. Source

People and basis of comparison

  • Workforce about 15,000 colleagues: The company described its team as about 15,000 colleagues, against about 16,000 in the prior quarter's release. Source
  • Nine-month reported revenue $4.678 billion: Nine-month reported revenue was $4,678 million against $2,233 million, with organic reported revenue growth of 10%. Source
  • Nine-month GAAP diluted loss of $1.37: Nine-month GAAP diluted EPS was a loss of $1.37, against $7.00 in the prior year period. Source
  • Prior-year BDS figures carry BDX allocations: Prior-year BDS results are the figures BDX reported for those businesses, and may not show what they would have been under Waters. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • 2027 growth framework on today's call: Management will outline how reshoring, synergies and AI-related demand drivers are expected to shape 2027 growth, on the 8:00 a.m. ET call today. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
ASD instrument revenue Source$282 million, up 10% in constant currency
ASD chemistry consumables revenue Source$157 million, up 12% in constant currency
Biosciences reagents growth Sourcehigh single-digits on a prior year comparable basis
Advanced Diagnostics microbiology growth Sourcemid-single-digits on a prior year comparable basis
Clinical Business Unit revenue Source$75 million, against $64 million a year earlier

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said adjusted EPS guidance cannot be reconciled to GAAP, because acquisition amortization and costs are hard to forecast and could be significant to future GAAP results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Total reported revenue was $14 million above the guidance midpoint given for the third quarter. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted EPS of $4.10 was above the $3.95 to $4.05 third quarter guidance range. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the company is delivering synergy and integration commitments for the acquired businesses ahead of schedule. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.