Waters Corporation (WAT), a provider of analytical instruments, diagnostics technologies, scientific software, and others, on Tuesday posted a net loss for the first quarter. However, the company's revenue surged, helped by the newly acquired businesses.
For the three-month period to April 4, the company recorded a net loss of $72 million, or $0.87 per share, compared with a profit of $121 million, or $2.03 per share in the same period last year. This net loss was mainly due to the acquisition-related purchase accounting charges, including amortization of acquired intangibles and inventory step-up.
Excluding items, earnings were $222 million, or $2.70 per share, higher than the $134 million, or $2.25 per share, in the previous year.
Operating loss stood at $47 million, as against earnings of $151 million a year ago. Cost of revenue, which includes $99 million of fair value adjustments, was negative $672 million, compared with negative $277 million in the previous year.
Revenue surged to $1.256 billion from last year's $662 million. This surge in revenue reflects $520 million of revenue from Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions from the transaction closing date through to the end of the quarter.
Looking ahead, for the second quarter, the company expects a steep rise in revenue.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Waters expects adjusted income of $2.95 to $3.05 per share, with revenue of $1.616 billion to $1.631 billion. For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, Waters had posted an adjusted income of $2.95 per share, with revenue of $771.33 million.
For the full year, the company has revised up its earnings outlook to reflect the increased momentum across its businesses.
For fiscal 2026, Waters anticipates adjusted profit of $14.40 to $14.60 per share, compared with the previous expectation of $14.30 to $14.50 per share. For fiscal 2026, the company has reaffirmed its revenue outlook of $6.405 billion to $6.455 billion.
For fiscal 2025, Waters had registered adjusted income of $13.13 per share, with revenue of $3.165 billion.
WAT was up by 7.40% at $324.05 in the pre-market trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.