Waters Q2 2026: Revenue Doubles on BDS Deal, but Heavy Amortization and Restructuring Drive Net Loss
WAT sits 49% above its 52-week low of $278.49.
Summary
Waters' Q2 2026 revenue more than doubled to $1.645B after the BDS acquisition, but heavy amortization and restructuring costs drove a $136M net loss. The balance sheet now carries $5.1B in debt and $17.9B in goodwill/intangibles.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · WAT
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Revenue Doubles on BDS Deal
Total revenue reached $1.645B, up 113% year-over-year, driven by $817M from the acquired BDS business. Legacy Waters revenue grew 7% organically.
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Net Loss Driven by Non-Cash Charges
Net loss of $136M vs. a $147M profit last year, primarily due to $244M in purchased intangibles amortization, $154M in inventory step-up, and $49M in restructuring costs.
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Balance Sheet Transformed by Acquisition
Total debt jumped to $5.1B from $1.4B at year-end, with $3.5B in new Senior Notes. Goodwill and intangibles now total $17.9B, reflecting the $13B BDS acquisition.
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Restructuring Targets 3% of Workforce
A $52M restructuring charge was taken for a 3% workforce reduction, expected to generate $120M in annual savings, with $14M already realized in Q2.
Analysis · WAT · Industrial Applications And Services
The first full quarter incorporating the $13 billion BDS acquisition reveals a dramatic top-line surge to $1.645 billion, yet the bottom line swung to a $136 million net loss. Non-cash charges are the culprit — $244 million in purchased intangibles amortization and $154 million in inventory step-up — alongside $49 million in restructuring costs from a 3% workforce reduction. Stripping these out, the legacy business grew 7% organically. The balance sheet has been transformed: debt surged to $5.1 billion from $1.4 billion, and goodwill/intangibles now dominate assets. While the restructuring is expected to save $120 million annually, integration costs and amortization will continue to weigh on reported earnings. The market already knew the deal closed, but this is the first detailed look at the combined financials — and the magnitude of the acquisition-related noise is significant.
At the time of this filing, WAT was trading at $414.59 on NYSE in the Industrial Applications And Services sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $40.7B. The 52-week trading range was $278.49 to $415.63. This filing was assessed with neutral market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10.