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Abbott Laboratories vs Waters: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Waters carrying a narrow edge on stability. Abbott Laboratories still has the edge on stability, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. Both sides have seen trend damage — neither carries a clear market edge right now. With both trends damaged, the structural comparison carries most of the weight here.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

Stability points more clearly toward Abbott Laboratories, even if the broader score still leans toward Waters Corporation.

Trajectory Similarity
0.77
Similar
Peer-set rank: #4
within Abbott Laboratories's functional peer set

These two companies are linked by measured long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

This level of similarity signals a strong structural match, even though some dimensions still separate the two companies.

The match is driven mainly by margin consistency and revenue growth trajectory.

Similarity drivers
margin consistencyrevenue growth trajectory
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
ABT
Abbott Laboratories
53
Peer-Score
Signal qualityHigh
vs
WAT
Waters Corporation
54
Peer-Score
Signal qualityHigh

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in stability.

Dimension spread: ABT vs WAT Profitability 59 71 Stability 80 54 Valuation 66 62 Growth 0 18 ABT WAT
Gap Ranking
#1 Stability +26
#2 Growth +18
#3 Profitability +12
#4 Valuation +4
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for ABT and WAT Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer ABTWAT Relative valuation Structural strength

The setup stays mixed because structure and the price setup do not align cleanly in one direction.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Stability
Both profiles are strong on stability, but Abbott Laboratories leads clearly.
Growth
Both sit in the weaker half on growth, with Abbott Laboratories still coming out ahead.
Stability — Dominant Gap
ABT
80
WAT
54
Gap+26in favour of ABT

The clearest distance comes from a steadier profile over time.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Abbott Laboratories still looks less cycle-sensitive — that keeps the result from looking completely one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

Stability is the clearest driver of the lead, with growth adding further support — though stability still provides a real counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the ABT vs WAT comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

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Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how ABT and WAT each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.