Danaher Corporation vs Waters Corporation
Prices at close . Model readings .
Danaher Corporation
$234.07+0.89%- Market value
- $165.44B
- P/E
- 40.2
- 1 year
- +6.5%
Waters Corporation
$476.88+1.78%- Market value
- $46.85B
- P/E
- 103.7
- 1 year
- +35.6%
Price change, with the S&P 500 as a benchmark
Percent change in each close since the start of the chosen range, for both companies and the S&P 500 (SPY). Daily closes over the last year, weekly before that and monthly before five years.
How the two compare
On the latest closes (28 Oct 2026), Danaher Corporation is the larger company by market value ($165.44B against $46.85B). Over the past year Danaher Corporation returned +6.5% and Waters Corporation +35.6%, while the S&P 500 returned +12.7%. The latest filed P/E is 40.2 for Danaher Corporation and 103.7 for Waters Corporation, and the operating margin 19% against -5.2%. Over the next 21 sessions the model expects −0.07% for Danaher Corporation, with a 38% chance of a rise, and −0.15% for Waters Corporation, with a 29% chance. Danaher Corporation's long-run fair value is $159.43, a gap of −31.9% to its price; the long-run model view is negative. Waters Corporation's long-run fair value is $333.56, a gap of −30.1% to its price; the long-run model view is negative.
What the model expects
Expected returns and the chance of a rise from our forecasting models, and the long-run fair value against the price. Readings, not advice.
How the prices moved
Price change over each period, with the S&P 500 (SPY) for comparison.
What the market pays
Size and the multiples from the latest filed quarter. A P/E on losses reads n/m.
How much of revenue becomes profit
Margins and returns on capital from the latest filing; revenue, net income and earnings per share over the trailing twelve months.
How fast the business grew
Change against the same quarter a year earlier.
Balance sheet and quality scores
Leverage, liquidity and two published scores: Altman Z (below 1.8 the distress zone, above 3 the safe zone) and Piotroski F (0 to 9).
How the shares trade
Volatility, sensitivity to the market, the deepest fall, short interest and how closely the two move together.
Danaher Corporation or Waters Corporation: common questions
Which is larger by market value, Danaher Corporation or Waters Corporation?
Danaher Corporation, at $165.44B against $46.85B for Waters Corporation, on the latest closes (28 Oct 2026).
Which has the higher P/E ratio, Danaher Corporation or Waters Corporation?
Waters Corporation has the higher latest filed P/E, 103.7; Danaher Corporation's is 40.2. Filings: quarter to 25 Sep 2026 and 4 Jul 2026.
How did Danaher Corporation and Waters Corporation move over the past year against the S&P 500?
Over the past year Danaher Corporation returned +6.5% and Waters Corporation +35.6%, while the S&P 500 returned +12.7%. Prices at close 28 Oct 2026.
What does the model expect for Danaher Corporation and Waters Corporation over the next month?
−0.07% for Danaher Corporation with a 38% chance of a rise, and −0.15% for Waters Corporation with a 29% chance, over the next 21 sessions. Model readings 28 Oct 2026. These are model readings, not advice.
How do the operating margins of Danaher Corporation and Waters Corporation compare?
The operating margin is 19% for Danaher Corporation and -5.2% for Waters Corporation. Filings: quarter to 25 Sep 2026 and 4 Jul 2026.
Do Danaher Corporation and Waters Corporation shares move together?
Over the past year the correlation of their daily returns was 0.41 (loosely together); 1 means they always move together, 0 unrelated, −1 opposite. Prices at close 28 Oct 2026.
Model readings are research estimates, not investment advice. Prices: daily closes. Fundamentals: the latest SEC filings. Short interest: FINRA, settlement 30 Sep 2026. A dash means the figure is not in our data; it is never shown as zero. The model view follows a published rule: next month by the sign of the expected return, the long run positive at a fair value 10% or more above the price and negative at 10% or more below it.