Summary of Waters (NYSE: WAT) FY Conference Call - January 12, 2026 Company Overview - **Company**: Waters Corporation - **Industry**: Life Science Tools and Diagnostics - **Recent Acquisition**: BD's Bioscience and Diagnostics business Key Points Transformation and Growth Strategy - Waters has undergone a transformation over the past five years, enhancing commercial strength and innovation, leading to the acquisition of BD's Bioscience and Diagnostics business [2][19] - The company invests approximately 10% of product sales in R&D to develop complex instrumentation into user-friendly systems for regulated applications [3][4] Market Position and Financial Performance - Waters operates in core markets valued at approximately $11 billion, growing mid-single digits, while the biologics market is growing at double digits [5][6] - The total addressable market (TAM) for Waters is estimated at $19-$20 billion, with growth projected in mid to high single digits [6] - Waters has achieved an adjusted operating margin that is 180 basis points higher than its closest competitor, with an 8% growth rate over the last 12 months, outpacing the industry average [16] Product and Service Innovations - Key product innovations include: - **Alliance iS**: Leading instrument in its category, reducing errors in quality control by 40% and growing 270% year-over-year [10] - **Xevo TQ Absolute**: Most sensitive mass spectrometer for PFAS testing, growing 40% in its third year [10] - **MaxPeak Premier columns**: Bio-inert columns for biologics characterization, growing 35% year-over-year [11] - The service team contributes roughly one-third of total revenue, with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) 20% higher than the industry average [4] Acquisition of BD's Bioscience and Diagnostics Business - The acquisition is valued at $3.3 billion, with a 5% CAGR from 2019 to 2024, and 80% of revenue is recurring [19][20] - The business includes: - **Biosciences**: $1.5 billion revenue, focusing on flow cytometry and antibodies [20] - **Diagnostic Solutions**: $1.8 billion revenue, with a strong presence in microbiology and molecular diagnostics [21] Strategic Synergies and Future Growth - Expected synergies from the acquisition include: - **Cost Synergies**: Estimated at $200 million over three years, with potential to exceed $300 million [29][30] - **Revenue Synergies**: Anticipated revenue growth of $115 million from high-growth adjacencies [32] - Focus on cross-selling opportunities and leveraging BD's commercial infrastructure to enhance Waters' product offerings [33] Financial Outlook - Waters projects a 7% CAGR in revenue over the next five years, with a margin expansion of approximately 500 basis points [39] - Expected mid-teen EPS growth, supported by strong performance in biologics and diagnostics [39] Additional Insights - The company is optimistic about the impact of GLP-1 testing, PFAS testing, and generics testing in India, contributing significantly to revenue growth [14][17] - Waters aims to build a biologics QC environment that simplifies processes similar to small molecules, enhancing market access for biosimilars [25][51] Conclusion - Waters is positioned strongly for future growth, driven by strategic acquisitions, innovative product offerings, and a robust financial outlook, setting the stage for continued success in the life sciences industry [39]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported sales of $800 million for the third quarter, reflecting an 8% increase both as reported and in constant currency [23][26] - Non-GAAP earnings per share increased by 16% to $3.40, exceeding the midpoint of guidance by $0.20 [8][25] - Gross margin for the quarter was 59%, a 70 basis point sequential increase from the previous quarter [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Instrument sales grew by 6%, driven by high single-digit growth in the LCMS portfolio [23][25] - Recurring revenue increased by 9%, with service revenue up 7% and chemistry revenue up 13% [25][26] - Alliance iS sales grew over 300%, indicating strong customer adoption of the flagship HPLC product [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - By end market, pharma sales grew by 11%, industrial sales grew by 4%, and academic and government sales grew by 1% [23][25] - Asia saw a 13% growth, while Europe and the Americas each grew by 5% [25] - In China, sales grew by 12%, driven by double-digit growth in pharma and academic sectors [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation and strategic expansion into high-growth areas, including bioanalytical characterization and bioseparations [7][11] - The pending combination with BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business is expected to create significant value and synergies [21][22] - The company plans to launch a series of new products in 2026, enhancing its offerings in large molecule applications and informatics [16][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing instrument replacement cycle and the positive impact of innovation on growth [30][79] - The external environment is improving, supported by stable global trade conditions and a clearer policy backdrop for pharma customers [27][28] - The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting constant currency sales growth in the range of 6.7%-7.3% [15][28] Other Important Information - The company achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the Xevo Charge Detection Mass Spectrometer, marking a new era in mass spectrometry [17] - The FDA's new draft guidance on biosimilars is expected to increase demand for analytical instruments, aligning with the company's strategic focus [20][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on pharma strength in the Americas and China - Management noted double-digit growth in pharma across all regions, driven by the instrument replacement cycle and new product traction [35][36] Question: Thoughts on the BD transaction and revenue synergies - Management expressed confidence in achieving revenue synergies and highlighted ongoing integration planning efforts [44][49] Question: Expectations for fourth quarter guidance and pull-forwards - Management indicated no pull-forwards were observed, with orders growing more than sales, leading to a healthy backlog [57] Question: Clarification on the Empower subscription model - Management discussed the incremental upside of the Empower model, emphasizing its transition to a subscription-based service [62] Question: Update on the TA business and order funnel - Management highlighted a recovery in the TA business due to stabilizing tariffs and improving customer spending [66][68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported sales of $800 million for the third quarter, reflecting an 8% increase both as reported and in constant currency [23][26] - Non-GAAP earnings per share increased by 16% to $3.40, exceeding the midpoint of guidance by $0.20 [8][25] - Gross margin for the quarter was 59%, a 70 basis point increase from the previous quarter [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Instrument sales grew by 6%, driven by high single-digit growth in the LC-MS portfolio [25] - Recurring revenue increased by 9%, with service revenue up 7% and Chemistry revenue up 13% [25][26] - Chemistry products saw a significant boost, with new product launches contributing to a 13% growth in the segment [12][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - By end market, Pharma grew 11%, Industrial grew 4%, and Academic and Government grew 1% [23][25] - Asia experienced a 13% growth, while Europe and the Americas each grew by 5% [25] - In China, sales grew by 12%, driven by double-digit growth in Pharma and Academic & Government sectors [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation and expansion into high-growth areas, including bioanalytical characterization and bioseparations [7][11] - The pending combination with BD's Bioscience & Diagnostic Solutions business is expected to create significant value and synergies [21][22] - The company plans to launch a series of new products in 2026, enhancing its competitive position in the market [16][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing instrument replacement cycle and the potential for sustained growth driven by innovation [30][77] - The external environment is improving, with more stable global trade conditions and a clearer policy backdrop for Pharma customers [27][30] - The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting constant currency sales growth in the range of 6.7%-7.3% [15][28] Other Important Information - The company is seeing strong demand for GLP-1 testing and PFAS testing, which are key growth drivers [9][10] - The integration planning for the BD transaction is progressing rapidly, with a focus on achieving synergies [21][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more color on Pharma strength in the Americas and China? - Management noted double-digit growth in Pharma across all regions, driven by the success of the replacement cycle and new product traction [35][36] Question: What are your thoughts on the BD transaction and revenue synergies? - Management expressed confidence in achieving revenue synergies and highlighted the integration planning efforts underway [44][49] Question: Can you clarify on the fourth quarter guidance and any pull-forwards? - Management indicated no pull-forwards were observed, with orders growing more than sales, leading to a healthy backlog [56][57] Question: How do you see the biosimilar opportunity evolving? - Management is optimistic about the shift towards analytical testing for biosimilars, which aligns with the company's strategy [50][51]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported sales of $800 million, reflecting an 8% increase both as reported and in constant currency compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 [21][24] - Non-GAAP earnings per share increased by 16% to $3.40, exceeding the midpoint of guidance by $0.20 [6][23] - Gross margin for the quarter was 59%, a 70 basis point sequential increase from the prior quarter [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Instrument sales grew by 6%, driven by high single-digit growth in the LCMS portfolio [21][23] - Recurring revenue increased by 9%, with service revenue up 7% and chemistry revenue up 13% [23] - Alliance iS sales grew over 300%, indicating strong customer adoption of the flagship HPLC product [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - By end market, pharma sales grew by 11%, industrial sales grew by 4%, and academic and government sales grew by 1% [21][23] - Asia saw a growth of 13%, while Europe and the Americas each grew by 5% [23] - In China, sales grew by 12%, driven by double-digit growth in pharma and academic sectors [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation and strategic expansion into high-growth areas, including bioanalytical characterization and bioseparations [5][14] - The pending combination with BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business is expected to create significant value and synergies [19][20] - The company plans to launch a series of new products in 2026, enhancing its competitive position in the market [14][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing instrument replacement cycle and the potential for sustained growth driven by new product launches and market demand [6][14] - The external environment is improving, supported by stable global trade conditions and a clearer policy backdrop for pharma customers [12][25] - The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting constant currency sales growth in the range of 6.7%-7.3% [12][25] Other Important Information - The company achieved a free cash flow of $160 million after capital expenditures and transaction-related expenses [24] - The integration planning for the BD combination is progressing rapidly, with a focus on operational readiness [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more color on the pharma strength in the Americas and China? - Management noted that double-digit growth in the U.S. was driven by the success of the replacement cycle and new product traction, while in China, growth was supported by CDMOs aiding local biotech [29][30] Question: What are the latest thoughts on revenue synergies from the BD transaction? - Management expressed confidence in achieving revenue synergies, highlighting the potential for increased uptake of BD's products and improved service plans [35][39] Question: How does the recent FDA update on biosimilars impact Waters? - Management indicated that the shift towards analytical testing for biosimilars could significantly increase demand for their analytical instruments, aligning with the company's strategy [41] Question: What are the expectations for the fourth quarter regarding budget flush and pull forwards? - Management confirmed no pull forwards were observed and maintained a prudent outlook for Q4, expecting a 5-7% growth [42][44] Question: How should we think about the incremental upside from the Empower model? - Management highlighted the transition to a subscription-based model as a significant opportunity, with several customers already moving in that direction [46][48]