In a significant move within the life sciences and diagnostics sector, Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) finalized a deal in July 2025 to merge its Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions division with Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT). This strategic combination aims to extend Waters' footprint and diversify its portfolio, positioning the merged company for expanded growth opportunities.
On the heels of this transaction, investment bank William Blair commenced coverage on Waters with an Outperform recommendation, highlighting the potential benefits for investors from the merger. Analyst Matt Larew articulated that although the deal introduces further complexity to Waters’ operational model, the strategic compatibility between the two firms is robust and the synergy potential is greater than the market initially appreciated.
Based on William Blair's analysis, the merger is expected to contribute approximately $0.10 per share to Waters’ earnings per share (EPS) accretion in 2026, expanding significantly to around $2.70 by 2028. This suggests a substantial uplift in profitability as the integration matures.
Waters currently commands a leading position in the quality assurance and control (QA/QC) market, a sector noted for its resilience even in volatile economic conditions. This steadiness underpins the company’s growth outlook, which is set to improve as core end markets rebound in the coming year. Notably, this marks the first year-over-year market recovery since the period preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling positive momentum for Waters’ target sectors.
Following the merger announcement, Waters’ stock experienced a decline of roughly 20% during the week, reflecting investor apprehension regarding the introduction of a substantial and different business unit into an otherwise streamlined, high-margin operation. Concerns were notably centered on the risks associated with integrating the new entity and the ensuing adjustments to Waters’ financial characteristics.
Nevertheless, the shares have shown recovery, a trend partly attributed to a macroeconomic rebound in demand for instrumentation tools. Investor sentiment has further improved as Waters' management engaged in recent dialogues with shareholders, offering clarification on synergy targets and the strategic rationale behind the merger.
Looking forward, analyst Larew projects Waters’ EPS to reach $15.55 in 2027, increasing to $17.18 once the acquisition of Becton Dickinson's business unit is fully realized. This speaks to the growth trajectory envisioned for the newly constituted company.
The post-merger Waters entity is expected to maintain above-average growth rates, strong margins, and high return on invested capital (ROIC) compared to its peers. William Blair forecasts a potential upside near 20% in Waters’ stock price by the end of 2026, based on a price-to-earnings multiple of 26 times the 2027 EPS target. This is aligned with current valuation metrics, which place Waters at approximately 26.7 times earnings, closely reflecting the 10-year average of 25.9 times and somewhat above its peer group median of 25.2 times.
The expansion of Waters’ portfolio through this acquisition features areas of overlap and strategic adjacency, reinforcing the firm's position in the life sciences space. Drawing parallels with successful large-scale mergers in the sector, William Blair points to examples such as Thermo Fisher Scientific's acquisition of Life Technologies and Merck’s purchase of Sigma-Aldrich. These precedents demonstrated that realized post-merger synergies often exceeded initial expectations, bolstering investor confidence.
In line with this outlook, Waters has targeted $345 million in total EBITDA synergies within five years following the merger, a goal that William Blair considers conservative given historical precedents from comparable transactions.
At the time of reporting, Waters shares traded at $399.75, representing an increase of 1.21%. The price movement reflects ongoing market adjustments as investors digest the merger implications and assess the company’s growth outlook.