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

IDEXX Laboratories leads structurally, with profitability as the clearest single gap between the two profiles. Waters 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. Both peer scores are relative to the S&P 500 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-05-17

Most of the separation is still concentrated in profitability. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. leads by 23 points on the overall comparison score.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Diagnostics & Research

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. IDXX and WAT share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how IDEXX Laboratories and Waters each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
IDXX
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
57
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500
vs
WAT
Waters Corporation
34
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500

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

Score differences across key dimensions.

Dimension spread: IDXX vs WAT Profitability 88 4 Stability 23 45 Valuation 46 40 Growth 58 60 IDXX WAT
Gap Ranking
#1 Profitability +84
#2 Stability +22
#3 Valuation +6
#4 Growth +2
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for IDXX and WAT Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer IDXXWAT Relative valuation Structural strength

The setup remains mixed because the stronger profile and the more supportive price setup do not sit on the same side.

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

Entry today — historical context

Where IDXX and WAT each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY IDXX Neutral · below norm 0th 50th 100th 11 pct gap WAT Neutral · near norm 0th 50th 100th 60th 50th
IDXX (60th percentile) and WAT (50th percentile) sit at comparable positions within their own 5-year histories. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Profitability
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. ranks near the top of the group on profitability; Waters Corporation sits in the weaker half.
Stability
Stability also leans toward Waters Corporation, reinforcing the broader structural lead.
Profitability — Dominant Gap
IDXX
88
WAT
4
Gap+84in favour of IDXX

The profitability lead is mainly driven by a 29-point operating margin advantage.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Waters Corporation still shows lower market-fundamental divergence, which keeps the wider picture mixed rather than completely one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

Profitability settles the comparison, while pricing and stability keep the broader setup from looking fully aligned.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

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

Explore full breakdown →
Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how IDXX 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.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

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.