Agilent Technologies (A) vs Waters (WAT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Waters (WAT) has outperformed Agilent Technologies (A) over the past year, gaining 36.9% versus a gain of 22.0%. Over five years, WAT leads with a +26.5% price change compared with +10.3% for A. Agilent Technologies is the larger company by market cap ($47.68 billion vs $42.81 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Waters is growing revenue faster (+7.0% vs +6.7%).
On valuation, Agilent Technologies trades at a lower forward P/E (25.0x vs 26.4x for Waters). Agilent Technologies pays a dividend yielding 0.60%, while Waters does not currently pay one. Waters converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 20.3% versus 18.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | A | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $169.09 | $435.99 |
| Market cap | $47.68B | $42.81B |
| 1-day change | -0.14% | -0.10% |
| YTD return | +24.28% | +14.78% |
| 1-year return | +22.05% | +36.95% |
| 5-year return | +10.33% | +26.48% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 33.35 | 110.38 |
| Forward P/E | 25.02 | 26.36 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.07 | $3.95 |
| Dividend yield | 0.60% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.01 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.95B | $3.17B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.73% | +6.99% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.30B | $642.63M |
| Gross margin | 52.43% | 59.28% |
| Operating margin | 21.29% | 25.36% |
| Net margin | 18.75% | 20.30% |
| 52-week high | $177.05 | $454.54 |
| 52-week low | $108.35 | $282.77 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.50% | -4.08% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +4.38% | +3.96% |
| Average volume | 2.26M | 770.67K |
| Shares outstanding | 281.97M | 98.19M |
| Employees | 18,200 | 16,000 |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Diagnostics & Research | Diagnostics & Research |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- WAT has outperformed A by 14.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Waters trades at a higher earnings multiple (110.4x vs 33.4x trailing P/E).
About Agilent Technologies
A stock →Agilent Technologies, Inc. provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide.
Healthcare · Diagnostics & Research · 18,200 employees
About Waters
WAT stock →Waters Corporation provides analytical workflow solutions in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The company operates through two segments, Waters and TA.
Healthcare · Diagnostics & Research · 16,000 employees
A vs WAT FAQ
Which is bigger, Agilent Technologies or Waters?
Agilent Technologies (A) is larger, with a market capitalization of $47.68B compared with $42.81B for Waters (WAT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, A or WAT?
WAT returned +36.95% over the past 12 months, compared with +22.05% for A (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, A or WAT?
A has the lower trailing P/E at 33.4, versus 110.4 for WAT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Agilent Technologies or Waters?
Agilent Technologies pays a dividend yielding 0.60%, while Waters does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Agilent Technologies and Waters in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Diagnostics & Research industry within the Healthcare sector.