Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

WAT Waters Corp

WAT Waters Corp

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 28, 2024

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from

Commission

File Number:

01-14010

Waters Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		13-3668640
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

34 Maple Street

Milford, Massachusetts 01757

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(

508)

478-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	WAT	New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation

S-T

(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a

non-accelerated

filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in

Rule 12b-2

of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in

Rule 12b-2

of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of

October 25

, 2024: 59,376,174

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

INDEX


		Page
PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023		3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023		4
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023		5
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023		6
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023		7
	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023		8
	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023		9
	Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		10
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		25
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		35
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		36

PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		36
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		36
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		37
Item 5.	Other Information		38
Item 6.	Exhibits		39
	Signature		40

Item 1: Financial Statements

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)


	September 28, 2024			December 31, 2023
ASSETS	(In thousands, except per share data)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	330,514		$	395,076
Investments		944			898
Accounts receivable, net		669,534			702,168
Inventories		518,994			516,236
Other current assets		127,738			138,489

Total current assets		1,647,724			1,752,867
Property, plant and equipment, net		642,627			639,073
Intangible assets, net		591,883			629,187
Goodwill		1,306,593			1,305,446
Operating lease assets		76,642			84,591
Other assets		246,151			215,690

Total assets	$	4,511,620		$	4,626,854

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Notes payable and debt	$	—		$	50,000
Accounts payable		94,596			84,705
Accrued employee compensation		79,356			69,391
Deferred revenue and customer advances		294,884			256,675
Current operating lease liabilities		25,346			27,825
Accrued income taxes		150,242			120,257
Accrued warranty		10,491			12,050
Other current liabilities		161,125			168,677

Total current liabilities		816,040			789,580
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt		1,826,248			2,305,513
Long-term portion of retirement benefits		51,007			47,559
Long-term income tax liabilities		17,819			137,123
Long-term operating lease liabilities		53,234			58,926
Other long-term liabilities		144,173			137,812

Total long-term liabilities		2,092,481			2,686,933

Total liabilities		2,908,521			3,476,513
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6, 7 and 9)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, no ne issued at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023		—			—
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 400,000 shares authorized, 162,940 and 162,709 shares issued, 59,367 and 59,176 shares outstanding at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		1,629			1,627
Additional paid-in capital		2,324,225			2,266,265
Retained earnings		9,557,257			9,150,821
Treasury stock, at cost, 103,573 and 103,533 shares at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		(10,147,727	)		(10,134,252	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(132,285	)		(134,120	)

Total stockholders’ equity		1,603,099			1,150,341

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,511,620		$	4,626,854

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues:
Product sales	$	462,011		$	448,081
Service sales		278,294			263,611

Total net sales		740,305			711,692
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of product sales		193,378			184,332
Cost of service sales		108,277			107,075
Selling and administrative expenses		169,097			186,748
Research and development expenses		45,336			41,995
Purchased intangibles amortization		11,759			12,116
Litigation provision		1,326			—

Total costs and operating expenses		529,173			532,266

Operating income		211,132			179,426
Other (expense) income, net		(338	)		328
Interest expense		(21,435	)		(30,442	)
Interest income		4,258			3,883

Income before income taxes		193,617			153,195
Provision for income taxes		32,114			18,643

Net income	$	161,503		$	134,552

Net income per basic common share	$	2.72		$	2.28
Weighted-average number of basic common shares		59,367			59,093
Net income per diluted common share	$	2.71		$	2.27
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		59,504			59,255

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues:
Product sales	$	1,273,306		$	1,362,464
Service sales		812,367			774,478

Total net sales		2,085,673			2,136,942
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of product sales		522,396			559,040
Cost of service sales		329,289			317,823
Selling and administrative expenses		516,880			555,657
Research and development expenses		136,113			130,559
Purchased intangibles amortization		35,337			20,410
Litigation provision		11,568			—

Total costs and operating expenses		1,551,583			1,583,489

Operating income		534,090			553,453
Other income, net		1,619			1,364
Interest expense		(70,681	)		(68,158	)
Interest income		12,857			11,984

Income before income taxes		477,885			498,643
Provision for income taxes		71,449			72,614

Net income	$	406,436		$	426,029

Net income per basic common share	$	6.85		$	7.21
Weighted-average number of basic common shares		59,314			59,061
Net income per diluted common share	$	6.83		$	7.19
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		59,471			59,262

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
Net income	$	161,503		$	134,552		$	406,436		$	426,029
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation		18,668			(17,676	)		2,453			(4,909	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments before reclassifications		(3,025	)		603			209			603
Amounts reclassified to interest income		(366	)		(93	)		(940	)		(93	)

Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments before income taxes		(3,391	)		510			(731	)		510
Income tax benefit (expense)		814			(122	)		176			(122	)

Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments, net of tax		(2,577	)		388			(555	)		388
Retirement liability adjustment before reclassifications		(211	)		(200	)		(60	)		(29	)
Amounts reclassified to other income, net		(10	)		(75	)		(68	)		(242	)

Retirement liability adjustment before income taxes		(221	)		(275	)		(128	)		(271	)
Income tax benefit		47			66			65			67

Retirement liability adjustment, net of tax		(174	)		(209	)		(63	)		(204	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		15,917			(17,497	)		1,835			(4,725	)

Comprehensive income	$	177,420		$	117,055		$	408,271		$	421,304

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	406,436		$	426,029
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		32,993			32,224
Deferred income taxes		(1,967	)		267
Depreciation		64,680			62,235
Amortization of intangibles		78,570			55,610
Realized gain on sale of investment		—			(651	)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable		27,457			100,327
Increase in inventories		(2,032	)		(81,415	)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets		1,279			(24,066	)
Increase in other assets		(18,416	)		(23,432	)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities		36,485			(130,065	)
Increase in deferred revenue and customer advances		37,972			38,959
Decrease in other liabilities		(141,473	)		(83,335	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		521,984			372,687
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(90,377	)		(119,044	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(1,285,907	)
(Investments in) proceeds from unaffiliated companies		(1,489	)		651
Purchases of investments		(2,796	)		(1,791	)
Maturities and sales of investments		2,752			1,770

Net cash used in investing activities		(91,910	)		(1,404,321	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuances		170,000			1,450,041
Payments on debt		(700,000	)		(520,040	)
Payments of debt issuance costs		—			(400	)
Proceeds from stock plans		25,073			18,092
Purchases of treasury shares		(13,475	)		(70,433	)
Proceeds from derivative contracts		15,305			8,178

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(503,097	)		885,438
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		8,461			2,081

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(64,562	)		(144,115	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		395,076			480,529

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	330,514		$	336,414

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(unaudited, in

thousands

)


	Number of Common Shares		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity

Balance July 1, 2023		162,576	$	1,626	$	2,232,055	$	8,800,064	$	(10,133,716	)	$	(128,800	)	$	771,229
Net income		—		—		—		134,552		—			—			134,552
Other comprehensive loss		—		—		—		—		—			(17,497	)		(17,497	)
Issuance of common stock for employees:
Employee Stock Purchase Plan		10		—		2,758		—		—			—			2,758
Stock options exercised		35		—		5,084		—		—			—			5,084
Treasury stock		—		—		—		—		(692	)		—			(692	)
Stock-based compensation		28		1		10,087		—		—			—			10,088

Balance September 30, 2023		162,649	$	1,627	$	2,249,984	$	8,934,616	$	(10,134,408	)	$	(146,297	)	$	905,522


	Number of Common Shares		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity

Balance June 29, 2024		162,926	$	1,629	$	2,310,372	$	9,395,754	$	(10,147,586	)	$	(148,202	)	$	1,411,967
Net income		—		—		—		161,503		—			—			161,503
Other comprehensive income		—		—		—		—		—			15,917			15,917
Issuance of common stock for employees:
Employee Stock Purchase Plan		9		—		2,551		—		—			—			2,551
Stock options exercised		4		—		736		—		—			—			736
Treasury stock		—		—		—		—		(141	)		—			(141	)
Stock-based compensation		1		—		10,566		—		—			—			10,566

Balance September 28, 2024		162,940	$	1,629	$	2,324,225	$	9,557,257	$	(10,147,727	)	$	(132,285	)	$	1,603,099

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’

EQUITY

(unaudited, in

thousand


	Number of Common Shares		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity

Balance December 31, 2022		162,425	$	1,624	$	2,199,824	$	8,508,587	$	(10,063,975	)	$	(141,572	)	$	504,488
Net income		—		—		—		426,029		—			—			426,029
Other comprehensive loss		—		—		—		—		—			(4,725	)		(4,725	)
Issuance of common stock for employees:
Employee Stock Purchase Plan		31		—		8,691		—		—			—			8,691
Stock options exercised		51		1		8,369		—		—			—			8,370
Treasury stock		—		—		—		—		(70,433	)		—			(70,433	)
Stock-based compensation		142		2		33,100		—		—			—			33,102

Balance September 30, 2023		162,649	$	1,627	$	2,249,984	$	8,934,616	$	(10,134,408	)	$	(146,297	)	$	905,522


	Number of Common Shares		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity

Balance December 31, 2023		162,709	$	1,627	$	2,266,265	$	9,150,821	$	(10,134,252	)	$	(134,120	)	$	1,150,341
Net income		—		—		—		406,436		—			—			406,436
Other comprehensive income		—		—		—		—		—			1,835			1,835
Issuance of common stock for employees:
Employee Stock Purchase Plan		27		—		7,341		—		—			—			7,341
Stock options exercised		87		1		18,347		—		—			—			18,348
Treasury stock		—		—		—		—		(13,475	)		—			(13,475	)
Stock-based compensation		117		1		32,272		—		—			—			32,273

Balance September 28, 2024		162,940	$	1,629	$	2,324,225	$	9,557,257	$	(10,147,727	)	$	(132,285	)	$	1,603,099

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Waters Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), a global leader in analytical instruments and software, has pioneered innovations in chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis serving life, materials and food sciences for more than 65 years. The Company primarily designs, manufactures, sells and services high-performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra-performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC” and together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”) and mass spectrometry (“MS”) technology systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products and comprehensive post-warranty service plans. These systems are complementary products that are frequently employed together

(“LC-MS”)

and sold as integrated instrument systems using common software platforms. LC is a standard technique and is utilized in a broad range of industries to detect, identify, monitor and measure the chemical, physical and biological composition of materials, and to purify a full range of compounds. MS technology, principally in conjunction with chromatography, is employed in drug discovery and development, including clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease processes (known as “proteomics”), nutritional safety analysis and environmental testing.

LC-MS

instruments combine a liquid phase sample introduction and separation system with mass spectrometric compound identification and quantification. In addition, the Company designs, manufactures, sells and services thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments through its TA Instruments product line. These instruments are used in predicting the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals and viscous liquids for various industrial, consumer goods and healthcare products, as well as for life science research. The Company is also a developer and supplier of advanced software-based products that interface with the Company’s instruments, as well as other manufacturers’ instruments.

On May 16, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Wyatt Technology, LLC and its three operating subsidiaries, Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Wyatt Technology France and Wyatt Technology UK Ltd. (collectively, “Wyatt”), for a total purchase price of $1.3 billion in cash. Wyatt is a pioneer in innovative light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments, software, accessories and services. The acquisition expanded Waters’ portfolio and increased exposure to large molecule applications. The Company financed this transaction with a combination of cash on its balance sheet and borrowings under its Credit Facility (as defined below). The Company’s financial results for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 include the financial results of Wyatt. The Company’s financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 only include

four-and-a-half

months of the financial results of Wyatt as the closing of the acquisition occurred during the second quarter of 2023. On an unaudited pro forma basis, as if the Wyatt acquisition had occurred at the beginning of fiscal year 2023, our consolidated net sales would have been $2.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The difference between the net income calculated on a pro forma basis and actual net income was insignificant primarily due to purchased intangibles amortization expense and interest expense related to our acquisition of Wyatt.

In addition, the Company has completed the purchase price allocation for the Wyatt acquisition and there were no material changes as compared to the Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation for the Wyatt acquisition.

The Company’s interim fiscal quarter typically ends on the thirteenth Saturday of each quarter. Since the Company’s fiscal year end is December 31, the first and fourth fiscal quarters may have more or less than thirteen complete weeks. The Company’s third fiscal quarters for 2024 and 2023 ended on September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions in Form

10-Q

and do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required for annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

It is management’s opinion that the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are normal and recurring) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form

10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2024.

Table of Contents

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the analytical instrument industry, including, but not limited to, global economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, fluctuations in customer demand, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, costs of developing new technologies, levels of debt and debt service requirements, risk of disruption, dependence on key personnel, protection and litigation of proprietary technology, shifts in taxable income between tax jurisdictions and compliance with regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and similar foreign regulatory authorities and agencies.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of its country of domicile, except for the Company’s subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Cayman Islands, where the underlying transactional cash flows are denominated in currencies other than the respective local currency of domicile. The functional currency of the Hong Kong, Singapore and Cayman Islands subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, based on the respective entity’s cash flows.

For the Company’s foreign operations, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the respective period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, while investments with longer maturities are classified as investments. The Company maintains cash balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $287 million out of $331 million and $321 million out of $396 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries. In addition, $234 million out of $331 million and $233 million out of $396 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company has very limited use of rebates and other cash considerations payable to customers and, as a result, the transaction price determination does not have any material variable consideration. The Company does not consider there to be significant concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables due to the short-term nature of the balances, the Company having a large and diverse customer base, and the Company having a strong historical experience of collecting receivables with minimal defaults. As a result, credit risk is considered low across territories and trade receivables are considered to be a single class of financial asset. The allowance for credit losses is based on a number of factors and is calculated by applying a historical loss rate to trade receivable aging balances to estimate a general reserve balance along with an additional adjustment for any specific receivables with known or anticipated issues affecting the likelihood of recovery. Past due balances with a probability of default based on historical data as well as relevant available forward-looking information are included in the specific adjustment. The historical loss rate is reviewed on at least an annual basis and the allowance for credit losses is reviewed quarterly for any required adjustments. The Company does not have any

off-balance

sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Trade receivables related to instrument sales are collateralized by the instrument that is sold. If there is a risk of default related to a receivable that is collateralized, then the fair value of the collateral is calculated and adjusted for the cost to

re-possess,

refurbish and

re-sell

the instrument. This adjusted fair value is compared to the receivable balance and the difference would be recorded as the expected credit loss.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Additions		Deductions and Other			Balance at End of Period
Allowance for Credit Losses
September 28, 2024	$	19,335	$	4,109	$	(7,451	)	$	15,993
September 30, 2023	$	14,311	$	3,727	$	(3,434	)	$	14,604

Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data, such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 28, 2024 (in thousands):


	Total at September 28, 2024		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	944	$	—	$	944	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		30,711		30,711		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		93		—		93		—

Total	$	31,748	$	30,711	$	1,037	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	60	$	—	$	60	$	—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		22,764		—		22,764		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		3,705		—		3,705		—

Total	$	26,529	$	—	$	26,529	$	—

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	Total at December 31, 2023		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	898	$	—	$	898	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		28,995		28,995		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		183		—		183		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		4,835		—		4,835		—

Total	$	34,911	$	28,995	$	5,916	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts		207		—		207		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		13,384		—		13,384		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		2,974		—		2,974		—

Total	$	16,565	$	—	$	16,565	$	—

Fair Value of 401(k) Restoration Plan Assets

The 401(k) Restoration Plan is a nonqualified defined contribution plan and the assets were held in registered mutual funds and have been classified as Level 1. The fair values of the assets in the plan are determined through market and observable sources from daily quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges.

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investments, Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts, Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements and Interest Rate Swap Cash Flow Hedges

The fair values of the Company’s cash equivalents, investments, foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap cash flow hedges are determined through market and observable sources and have been classified as Level 2. These assets and liabilities have been initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued, typically utilizing third-party pricing services. The pricing services use many inputs to determine value, including reportable trades, benchmark yields, credit spreads, broker/dealer quotes, current spot rates and other industry and economic events. The Company validates the prices provided by third-party pricing services by reviewing their pricing methods and obtaining market values from other pricing sources.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s variable interest rate debt approximates fair value due to the variable nature of the interest rate. The carrying value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was $1.3 billion at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was estimated using discounted cash flow models, based on estimated current rates offered for similar debt under current market conditions for the Company. The fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was estimated to be $1.2

billion at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023 using Level 2 inputs.

Derivative Transactions

The Company is a global company that operates in over 35 countries and, as a result, the Company’s net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and balance sheet amounts are significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to currency price risk on foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations when it translates its

non-U.S.

dollar foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars and when any of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase or sell products or services in a currency other than its own currency.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The Company’s principal strategies in managing exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are to (1) naturally hedge the foreign-currency-denominated liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet against corresponding assets of the same currency, such that any changes in liabilities due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are typically offset by corresponding changes in assets and (2) mitigate foreign exchange risk exposure of international operations by hedging the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its euro-denominated and

yen-denominated

net asset investments. The

Company

presents the derivative transactions in financing activities in the statement of cash flows.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The Company does not specifically enter into any derivatives that hedge foreign-currency-denominated operating assets, liabilities or commitments on its balance sheet, other than a portion of certain third-party accounts receivable and accounts payable, and the Company’s net worldwide intercompany receivables and payables, which are eliminated in consolidation. The Company periodically aggregates its net worldwide balances by currency and then enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that mature within 90 days to hedge a portion of the remaining balance to minimize some of the Company’s currency price risk exposure. The foreign currency exchange contracts are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. Principal hedged currencies include the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Mexican peso and Brazilian real.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company’s Credit Facility is a variable borrowing and has interest payments based on a contractually specified interest rate index. The contractually specified index on the Credit Facility is the

3-month

Term SOFR. The variable rate interest payments create interest risk for the Company as interest payments will fluctuate based on changes in the contractually specified interest rate index over the life of the Credit Facility. In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Company has entered in interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $

150

million to effectively

lock-in

the forecasted interest payments on the variable rate borrowing over its term. The interest rate swaps represent cash flow hedges and are assessed for hedge effectiveness each reporting period. When the hedge relationship is highly effective at achieving offsetting changes in cash flows, the Company will record the entire change in fair value of the interest rate swaps in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The amount in accumulated other comprehensive loss is reclassified to income in the period that the underlying transaction impacts consolidated income. If it becomes probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur, the hedge relationship will be

de-designated

and amounts accumulated in other comprehensive loss will be reclassified to income in the current period. Interest settlements due to benchmark interest rate changes are recorded in interest income or interest expense. For the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company did not have any cash flow hedges that were deemed ineffective.

Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements

yen-denominated

net asset investments. Under hedge accounting, the change in fair value of the derivative that relates to changes in the foreign currency spot rate are recorded in the currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive income and remain in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity until the sale or substantial liquidation of the foreign operation. The difference between the interest rate received and paid under the interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreement is recorded in interest income in the statement of operations.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges are included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024					December 31, 2023
	Notional Value		Fair Value			Notional Value		Fair Value
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Other current assets	$	16,000	$	93		$	24,155	$	183
Other current liabilities	$	23,918	$	60		$	16,000	$	207
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Other assets	$	—	$	—		$	220,000	$	4,835
Other liabilities	$	625,000	$	22,764		$	405,000	$	13,384
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(14,750	)			$	(7,975	)
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Other liabilities	$	150,000	$	3,705		$	100,000	$	2,974
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(3,705	)			$	(2,974	)

The following is a summary of

the

activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related

the

foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges (in thousands):


	Financial Statement Classification		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	Financial Statement Classification		September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts		Cost of sales	$	(138	)	$	(755	)	$	914		$	(50	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Cost of sales		(26	)		168			39			(123	)

Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains		Cost of sales	$	(164	)	$	(587	)	$	953		$	(173	)

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	2,486		$	2,720		$	7,613		$	8,048
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(28,339	)	$	18,936		$	(6,775	)	$	10,280
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	366		$	93		$	940		$	93
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(3,391	)	$	510		$	(731	)	$	510

Stockholders’ Equity

In December 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of its existing share repurchase program through January 21, 2025. The Company’s remaining authorization is $1.0 billion. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company repurchased 0.2 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $58 million under the Company’s share repurchase program. The Company did not make any open market share repurchases in 2024. In addition, the Company repurchased $13 million and $12 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

Product Warranty Costs

The Company accrues estimated product warranty costs at the time of sale, which are included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of its component suppliers, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. The amount of the accrued warranty liability is based on historical information, such as past experience, product failure rates, number of units repaired and estimated costs of material and labor. The liability is reviewed for reasonableness at least quarterly.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Accruals for Warranties		Settlements Made			Balance at End of Period
Accrued warranty liability:
September 28, 2024	$	12,050	$	3,812	$	(5,371	)	$	10,491
September 30, 2023	$	11,949	$	4,813	$	(5,642	)	$	11,120

Restructuring

In March 2024, the Company had a reduction in workforce that impacted approximately 2

% of the Company’s employees, primarily in China, where there had been a significant decline in sales as a result of lower customer demand. As a result, the Company incurred approximately $

8 million of severance-related costs. During the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company paid $13

million of severance-related costs in connection with the workforce reductions that occurred in March 2024 and July 2023. The accrued restructuring expense was approximately $

2 million at September 28, 2024 and $8 million at December 31, 2023 and included in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

2 Revenue Recognition

The Company’s deferred revenue liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets consist of the obligation on instrument service contracts and customer payments received in advance, prior to transfer of control of the instrument. The Company records deferred revenue primarily related to its service contracts, where consideration is billable at the beginning of the service period.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s deferred revenue and customer advances for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	323,516		$	285,175
Recognition of revenue included in balance at beginning of the period		(242,302	)		(222,001	)
Revenue deferred during the period, net of revenue recognized		276,515			276,277

Balance at the end of the period	$	357,729		$	339,451

The Company classified $63 million and $67 million of deferred revenue and customer advances in other long-term liabilities at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The amount of deferred revenue and customer advances equals the transaction price allocated to unfulfilled performance obligations for the period presented. Such amounts are expected to be recognized in the future as follows (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024

Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized in:
One year or less	$	294,884
13-24 months		38,785
25 months and beyond		24,060

Total	$	357,729

3 Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities within cash equivalents and investments included in the consolidated balance sheets consist of time deposits that mature in one year or less with an amortized cost and a fair value of $0.9 million at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

4 Inventories

Inventories are classified as

follows

(in thousands):


	September 28, 2024		December 31, 2023
Raw materials	$	241,378	$	233,952
Work in progress		23,555		20,198
Finished goods		254,061		262,086

Total inventories	$	518,994	$	516,236

5 Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The carrying amount of goodwill was $1.3 billion at both September 28, 2024 and December

2023

The Company’s intangible assets included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (dollars in thousands):


	September 28, 2024							December 31, 2023
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Weighted- Average Amortization Period			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Weighted- Average Amortization Period
Capitalized software	$	695,610	$	531,662		5	years	$	660,273	$	495,317		5	years
Purchased intangibles		614,768		232,928		10	years		614,357		197,154		10	years
Trademarks		9,680		—		—			9,680		—		—
Licenses		15,430		9,832		7	years		14,798		8,429		7	years
Patents and other intangibles		118,128		87,311		8	years		111,962		80,983		8	years

Total	$	1,453,616	$	861,733		7	years	$	1,411,070	$	781,883		7	years

The Company capitalized intangible assets in the amounts of $11 million and $10 million in the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively, and $31 million and $455 million

in the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and Sep

tember

30, 2023, respectively. The increase in intangible assets in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a result of the Wyatt

acquisition.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The

gross carrying value of intangible assets and accumulated amortization for intangible assets increased by $11 million and $2 million, respectively, in the nine months ended September 28, 2024 due to the effects of foreign currency translation.

Amortization

expense for intangible assets was $28 million and $26

million for the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets was

$79 million and $56 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be $107 million per year for each of the next five years.

6 Debt

On July 12, 2024 the Company entered into a private Master Note Facility Agreement (the “Shelf Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company may, at its option, authorize the issuance and sale of senior promissory notes (the “Shelf Notes”) up to an aggregate principal amount of $200 million. The purchase of any Shelf Notes is in the sole discretion of NYL Investors LLC. Any Shelf Notes sold or issued pursuant to the Shelf Agreement will mature no more than 15 years after the issuance date and will bear interest on the unpaid balance from the issuance date at the rates specified in the

Shelf

Agreement.

The Company has a

five-year

, $2.0 billion revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) that matures in September 2026. As of September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Credit Facility had a total of $0.6 billion and $1.1 billion outstanding, respectively.

The interest rates applicable under the Credit Facility are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the alternate base rate (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (1) the prime rate in effect on such day, (2) the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Rate on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% per annum and (3) the adjusted Term SOFR rate for a one-month interest period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day), plus 1% annum) or the applicable 1, 3 or 6 month adjusted Term SOFR or EURIBO rate for euro-denominated loans, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 and 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 and 112.5 basis points for Term SOFR or EURIBO rate loans. The facility fee on the Credit Facility ranges between 7.5 and 25 basis points per annum, based on the leverage ratio, of the amount of the revolving facility commitments and the outstanding term loan. The Credit Facility requires that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. In addition, the Credit Facility includes negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default that are customary for investment grade credit facilities.

As of both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had a total of $

1.3

billion of outstanding senior unsecured notes. Interest on the fixed rate senior unsecured notes is payable semi-annually each year. Interest on the floating rate senior unsecured notes is payable quarterly. The Company may prepay all or some of the senior unsecured notes at any time in an amount not less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding. In the event of a change in control of the Company (as defined in the note purchase agreement), the Company may be required to prepay the senior unsecured notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

These senior unsecured notes require that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. In addition, these senior unsecured notes include customary negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The Company had the following outstanding debt at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024			December 31, 2023
Senior unsecured notes - Series G - 3.92 %, due June 2024		—			50,000

Total notes payable and debt, current		—			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K - 3.44 %, due May 2026		160,000			160,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series L - 3.31 %, due September 2026		200,000			200,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series M - 3.53 %, due September 2029		300,000			300,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series N - 1.68 %, due March 2026		100,000			100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series O - 2.25 %, due March 2031		400,000			400,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series P - 4.91 %, due May 2028		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series Q - 4.91 %, due May 2030		50,000			50,000
Credit agreement		570,000			1,050,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(3,752	)		(4,487	)

Total long-term debt		1,826,248			2,305,513

Total debt	$	1,826,248		$	2,355,513

As of September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had a total amount available to borrow under the Credit Facility of $1.4 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively, after outstanding letters of credit. The weighted-average interest rates applicable to the senior unsecured notes and credit agreement borrowings collectively were 4.14% and 4.69% at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. As of September 28, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company and its foreign subsidiaries also had available short-term lines of credit totaling $

million and $

114

million at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, for the purpose of short-term borrowing and issuance of commercial guarantees. None of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries had outstanding short-term borrowings as of September 28, 2024 or December 31, 2023.

7 Income Taxes

The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the statutory tax rates were 21%, 12.5%, 25% and 17%, respectively, as of September 28, 2024. The Company has a Development and Expansion Incentive in Singapore that provides a concessionary income tax rate of 5% on certain types of income for the period April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. The effect of applying the concessionary income tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income arising from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 by $9 million and $11 million, respectively, and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.15 and $0.18, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 was 16.6

and 12.2

%, respectively. The increase between the effective tax rates can be primarily attributed to the impact of discrete tax benefits in the prior year and differences in the proportionate amounts of

pre-tax

income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 was 15.0% and 14.6

%, respectively. The increase between the effective tax rates can primarily be attributed to the impact of discrete tax benefits in the prior year and differences in the proportionate amounts of

pre-tax

income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return positions in accordance with the accounting standards for income taxes, which require financial statement reporting of the expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax reporting positions on the presumption that all concerned tax authorities possess full knowledge of those tax reporting positions, as well as all of the pertinent facts and circumstances, but prohibit any discounting of unrecognized tax benefits associated with those reporting positions for the time value of money. The Company continues to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.

Table of Contents

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

The

Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, at September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 were $15 million and $32 million, respectively. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to tax audit examinations in significant jurisdictions for the years ended on or before December 31, 2018. The Company continuously monitors the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments for related changes in the measurement of unrecognized tax benefits, related net interest and penalties, and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Effective in 2024, various foreign jurisdictions began implementing aspects of the guidance issued by the Organization for

Economic Co-operation and

Development related to the new Pillar Two system of global minimum tax rules. These changes in tax law did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024. The Company continues to monitor the adoption of the Pillar Two rules in additional jurisdictions.

8 Litigation

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes it has meritorious arguments in its current litigation matters and believes any outcome, either individually or in the aggregate, will not be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. During the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company recorded $12 million and paid $

10 million of patent litigation settlement and related costs.

9 Other Commitments and Contingencies

The Company licenses certain technology and software from third parties in the course of ordinary business. Future minimum license fees payable under existing license agreements as of September 28, 2024 are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2024 and thereafter.

The Company enters into standard indemnification agreements in its ordinary course of business. Pursuant to these agreements, the Company indemnifies, holds harmless and agrees to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party, generally the Company’s business partners or customers, in connection with patent, copyright or other intellectual property infringement claims by any third party with respect to its current products, as well as claims relating to property damage or personal injury resulting from the performance of services by the Company or its subcontractors. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. Historically, the Company’s costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims relating to such indemnity agreements have been minimal and management accordingly believes the estimated fair value of these agreements is immaterial.

10 Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted EPS calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share

data


	Three Months Ended September 28, 2024
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	161,503		59,367	$	2.72
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		137		(0.01	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	161,503		59,504	$	2.71

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	134,552		59,093	$	2.28
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		162		(0.01	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	134,552		59,255	$	2.27


	Nine Months Ended September 28, 2024
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	406,436		59,314	$	6.85
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		157		(0.02	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	406,436		59,471	$	6.83


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	426,029		59,061	$	7.21
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		201		(0.02	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	426,029		59,262	$	7.19

The Company had

130

thousand stock options that were antidilutive due to having higher exercise prices than the Company’s average stock price during both the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company had

355

thousand and

264

thousand stock options that were antidilutive, respectively. These securities were not included in the computation of diluted EPS. The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.

11 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are detailed as follows (in thousands):


	Currency Translation			Unrealized Loss on Retirement Plans			Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Balance at December 31, 2023	$	(128,359	)	$	(3,501	)	$	(2,260	)	$	(134,120	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		2,453			(63	)		(555	)		1,835

Balance at September 28, 2024	$	(125,906	)	$	(3,564	)	$	(2,815	)	$	(132,285	)

Table of Contents

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

12 Business Segment Information

The Company’s business activities, for which discrete financial information is available, are regularly reviewed and evaluated by the chief operating decision maker. As a result of this evaluation, the Company determined that it has two operating segments: Waters

and TA

The Waters operating segment is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, selling and servicing LC and MS instruments, columns and other precision chemistry consumables that can be integrated and used along with other analytical instruments. Operations of the Wyatt business are part of the Waters operating segment. The TA operating segment is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, selling and servicing thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments. The Company’s two operating segments have similar economic characteristics; product processes; products and services; types and classes of customers; methods of distribution; and regulatory environments. Because of these similarities, the two segments have been aggregated into one reporting segment for financial statement purposes.

Net sales for the Company’s products and services are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Product net sales:
Waters instrument systems	$	265,273	$	262,142	$	691,760	$	786,293
Chemistry consumables		138,935		128,650		414,227		398,084
TA instrument systems		57,803		57,289		167,319		178,087

Total product sales		462,011		448,081		1,273,306		1,362,464
Service net sales:
Waters service		251,444		238,556		734,125		700,281
TA service		26,850		25,055		78,242		74,197

Total service sales		278,294		263,611		812,367		774,478

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Table of Contents

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

Net sales are attributable to geographic areas based on the region of destination. Geographic sales information is presented below for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Net Sales:
Asia:
China	$	100,049	$	102,081	$	285,899	$	333,127
Japan		43,096		40,069		111,995		123,943
Asia Other		108,184		96,078		298,425		288,862

Total Asia		251,329		238,228		696,319		745,932
Americas:
United States		236,182		231,773		670,952		673,033
Americas Other		42,954		43,706		123,823		131,794

Total Americas		279,136		275,479		794,775		804,827
Europe		209,840		197,985		594,579		586,183

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Net sales by customer class are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Pharmaceutical	$	430,138	$	421,535	$	1,220,092	$	1,233,177
Industrial		227,740		209,449		644,459		648,754
Academic and government		82,427		80,708		221,122		255,011

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Table of Contents

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

Net sales for the Company recognized at a point in time versus over time are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Net sales recognized at a point in time:
Instrument systems	$	323,076	$	319,431	$	859,079	$	964,380
Chemistry consumables		138,935		128,650		414,227		398,084
Service sales recognized at a point in time (time & materials)		91,045		88,545		266,445		269,464

Total net sales recognized at a point in time		553,056		536,626		1,539,751		1,631,928
Net sales recognized over time:
Service and software maintenance sales recognized over time (contracts)		187,249		175,066		545,922		505,014

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

13 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

There were no

additions to the new accounting pronouncements not yet adopted as described in our Annual Report on Form

10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2023. Other amendments to U.S. GAAP that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business Overview

The Company has two operating segments: Waters^TM and TA^TM. Waters products and services primarily consist of high-performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra-performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC^TM” and, together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”), mass spectrometry (“MS”), light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments (Wyatt), and precision chemistry consumable products and related services. TA products and services primarily consist of thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instrument systems and service sales. The Company’s products are used by pharmaceutical, biochemical, industrial, nutritional safety, environmental, academic and government customers. These customers use the Company’s products to detect, identify, monitor and measure the chemical, physical and biological composition of materials and to predict the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals and viscous liquids in various industrial, consumer goods and healthcare products.

Wyatt Acquisition

On May 16, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Wyatt Technology, LLC and its three operating subsidiaries, Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Wyatt Technology France and Wyatt Technology UK Ltd. (collectively, “Wyatt”), for a total purchase price of $1.3 billion in cash. Wyatt is a pioneer in innovative light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments, software, accessories, and services. The acquisition expanded Waters’ portfolio and increase exposure to large molecule applications. The Company financed this transaction with a combination of cash on its balance sheet and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The Company’s financial results for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 include the financial results of Wyatt. The Company’s financial results for the first nine months of 2023 only include four-and-a-half months of Wyatt’s financial results as the closing of the acquisition occurred during the second quarter of 2023.

Financial Overview

The Company’s operating results are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):


	Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			% change			September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			% change
Revenues:
Product sales	$	462,011		$	448,081			3	%	$	1,273,306		$	1,362,464			(7	%)
Service sales		278,294			263,611			6	%		812,367			774,478			5	%

Total net sales		740,305			711,692			4	%		2,085,673			2,136,942			(2	%)
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales		301,655			291,407			4	%		851,685			876,863			(3	%)
Selling and administrative expenses		169,097			186,748			(9	%)		516,880			555,657			(7	%)
Research and development expenses		45,336			41,995			8	%		136,113			130,559			4	%
Purchased intangibles amortization		11,759			12,116			(3	%)		35,337			20,410			73	%
Litigation provision		1,326			—			100	%		11,568			—			100	%

Operating income		211,132			179,426			18	%		534,090			553,453			(3	%)
Operating income as a % of sales		28.5	%		25.2	%					25.6	%		25.9	%
Other (expense) income, net		(338	)		328			(203	%)		1,619			1,364			19	%
Interest expense, net		(17,177	)		(26,559	)		(35	%)		(57,824	)		(56,174	)		3	%

Income before income taxes		193,617			153,195			26	%		477,885			498,643			(4	%)
Provision for income taxes		32,114			18,643			72	%		71,449			72,614			(2	%)

Net income	$	161,503		$	134,552			20	%	$	406,436		$	426,029			(5	%)

Net income per diluted common share	$	2.71		$	2.27			19	%	$	6.83		$	7.19			(5	%)

The Company’s net sales increased 4% in the third quarter of 2024, as compared to the third quarter of 2023, with foreign currency translation having minimal impact on total sales growth. For the first nine months of 2024, the Company’s net sales decreased 2%, with the effect of foreign currency translation decreasing sales growth by 1% as compared to the first nine months of 2023. The net sales growth in the third quarter of 2024 was driven by strong customer demand across most major geographies, end markets, and product categories. For the first nine months of 2024, the Company’s net sales were negatively impacted by our customers delaying purchases of our instrument systems as they remained cautious with their capital spending during the first half of 2024; except in India, where sales growth increased 15% for the first nine months of 2024. The Wyatt acquisition increased sales growth by 2% for the first nine months of 2024. In addition, the Company’s first nine months of 2024 had one less calendar day than the first nine months of 2023. At current foreign currency exchange rates, the Company expects that foreign currency translation will have a negative impact on sales for the remainder of 2024.

Instrument system sales increased 1% for the third quarter of 2024 primarily driven by the increase in customer demand across our existing and newly introduced LC, LC-MS and Thermal Analysis instrument system sales. Instrument system sales decreased 11% for the first nine months of 2024 primarily driven by weaker customer demand across all major regions during the first half of 2024 caused by delayed capital spending. This decline in instrument system sales was broad-based across all of our instrument systems and was led by our mass spectrometry instrument systems, which are higher priced instruments that are significantly impacted by the timing and level of funding our academic and government customers receive. The Wyatt acquisition increased instrument system sales growth by 3% for the first nine months of 2024. Foreign currency translation had minimal impact on instrument system sales growth for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024.

Recurring revenues (combined sales of precision chemistry consumables and services) increased 6% and 5% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, with foreign currency translation decreasing sales growth by 1% for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024. Service revenues increased 6% and 5% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively. Wyatt contributed 1% to service revenue growth for the first nine months of 2024. Chemistry sales growth increased 8% and 4% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively.

Operating income increased 18% for the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to higher sales volume and cost savings from recent workforce reductions being partially offset by an increase in annual incentive compensation. In addition, the increase in operating income was impacted by $23 million of severance-related costs incurred in the third quarter of 2023 in connection with a worldwide reduction in the Company’s workforce.

Operating income decreased 3% for the first nine months of 2024, due to lower sales volume and the increases in annual incentive compensation expense, purchased intangibles amortization associated with the Wyatt acquisition, severance-related costs associated with a workforce reduction in China in the first quarter of 2024 and certain litigation settlements. In addition, the change in operating income was also impacted by the cost savings from the workforce reductions and the costs incurred in the first nine months of 2023, which included $13 million of transaction costs related to the Wyatt acquisition and $27 million of severance-related costs in connection with a worldwide reduction in the Company’s workforce in 2023. The negative effect of foreign currency translation lowered operating income by approximately $3 million and $19 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively.

The Company generated $522 million and $373 million of net cash from operating activities in the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, driven by lower annual incentive bonus payments and an improvement in working capital in the current year. Net cash used in investing activities included capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization of $90 million and $119 million in the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily due to the completion of the Company’s new manufacturing facilities.

Results of Operations

Sales by Geography

Geographic sales information is presented below for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		% change			September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		% change
Net Sales:
Asia:
China	$	100,049	$	102,081		(2	%)	$	285,899	$	333,127		(14	%)
Japan		43,096		40,069		8	%		111,995		123,943		(10	%)
Asia Other		108,184		96,078		13	%		298,425		288,862		3	%

Total Asia		251,329		238,228		5	%		696,319		745,932		(7	%)
Americas:
United States		236,182		231,773		2	%		670,952		673,033		—
Americas Other		42,954		43,706		(2	%)		123,823		131,794		(6	%)

Total Americas		279,136		275,479		1	%		794,775		804,827		(1	%)
Europe		209,840		197,985		6	%		594,579		586,183		1	%

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692		4	%	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942		(2	%)

Geographically, the Company’s sales growth in the third quarter of 2024 was broad-based across most major regions, with the exception of China and Americas Other, which both declined 2%. The decline in China was primarily driven by lower demand for our instrument systems. Excluding China, the Company’s net sales increased 5% for the third quarter of 2024. During the third quarter of 2024, sales increased 6% in Europe, 2% in the U.S., and 13% in Asia Other. Foreign currency translation increased sales growth by 2% in Europe and decreased sales growth by 3% in Japan in the third quarter of 2024.

During the first nine months of 2024, the Company’s sales declined 2% and were negatively impacted by our customers delaying purchases of our instrument systems as they remained cautious with their capital spending during the first half of 2024. The strong sales growth in India was offset by weakness across most other major regions. Excluding China, the Company’s net sales were flat for the first nine months of 2024. The Wyatt acquisition increased sales growth by 2% and foreign currency translation decreased sales growth by 1% in the first nine months of 2024. Foreign currency translation increased sales growth by 2% in Europe and decreased sales growth by 8% in Japan in the first nine months of 2024.

Sales by Trade Class

Net sales by customer class are presented below for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		% change			September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		% change
Pharmaceutical	$	430,138	$	421,535		2	%	$	1,220,092	$	1,233,177		(1	%)
Industrial		227,740		209,449		9	%		644,459		648,754		(1	%)
Academic and government		82,427		80,708		2	%		221,122		255,011		(13	%)

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692		4	%	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942		(2	%)

During the third quarter of 2024, sales to pharmaceutical customers increased 2%, as growth in Europe, India, and Japan was partially offset by weakness in the U.S. and China. Foreign currency translation decreased pharmaceutical sales growth by 1%. Combined sales to industrial customers, which include material characterization, food, environmental and fine chemical markets, increased 9% in the third quarter of 2024, with foreign currency translation increasing sales growth by 2%. Combined sales to academic and government customers increased 2% in the third quarter of 2024, with foreign currency translation increasing sales growth by 2%.

During the first nine months of 2024, sales to pharmaceutical customers decreased 1%, primarily driven by weakness in customer demand in China, with foreign currency translation decreasing pharmaceutical sales growth by 1% and Wyatt contributing 2%. Combined sales to industrial customers decreased 1%, with foreign currency having minimal impact on sales growth and Wyatt contributing 1% to industrial sales growth. Sales to our academic and government customers are highly dependent on when institutions receive funding to purchase our instrument systems and, as such, sales can vary significantly from period to period. Combined sales to academic and government customers decreased 13%, with foreign currency translation increasing sales growth by 1% and Wyatt contributing 2% to the Company’s academic and government sales growth. This overall decline in sales of 13% to our academic and government customers in the first nine months of 2024 compares to a 20% increase in academic and government sales in the first nine months of 2023, which represents a two-year compound annual growth rate of 2%.

Waters Products and Services Net Sales

Net sales for Waters products and services were as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		% of Total			September 30, 2023		% of Total			% change
Waters instrument systems	$	265,273		40	%	$	262,142		42	%		1	%
Chemistry consumables		138,935		22	%		128,650		20	%		8	%

Total Waters product sales		404,208		62	%		390,792		62	%		3	%
Waters service		251,444		38	%		238,556		38	%		5	%

Total Waters net sales	$	655,652		100	%	$	629,348		100	%		4	%


	Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		% of Total			September 30, 2023		% of Total			% change
Waters instrument systems	$	691,760		38	%	$	786,293		42	%		(12	%)
Chemistry consumables		414,227		22	%		398,084		21	%		4	%

Total Waters product sales		1,105,987		60	%		1,184,377		63	%		(7	%)
Waters service		734,125		40	%		700,281		37	%		5	%

Total Waters net sales	$	1,840,112		100	%	$	1,884,658		100	%		(2	%)

Waters products and service sales increased 4% for the third quarter of 2024 and decreased 2% for the first nine months of 2024, with the effect of foreign currency translation having minimal impact on sales growth for the third quarter of 2024 and decreasing sales growth by 1% for the first nine months of 2024. The contribution from Wyatt increased Waters products and service sales growth by 2% for the first nine months of 2024.

Waters instrument system sales increased by 1% for the third quarter of 2024 and decreased 12% for the first nine months of 2024, due to weaker customer demand for our instrument systems led by the decline in sales of mass spectrometry instrument systems. Wyatt’s instrument system sales contributed 4% to Waters instrument system sales growth for the first nine months of 2024. The increase in Waters chemistry consumables sales was primarily due to the continued demand in most major geographies, driven by the uptake in columns and application-specific testing kits to pharmaceutical and industrial customers. Waters service sales increased 5% for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 due to higher service demand billing in most major regions, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation which decreased service sales growth by 1% for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024. Wyatt service revenues added 1% to Waters service revenue growth for the first nine months of 2024.

TA Product and Services Net Sales

Net sales for TA products and services were as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		% of Total			September 30, 2023		% of Total			% change
TA instrument systems	$	57,803		68	%	$	57,289		70	%		1	%
TA service		26,850		32	%		25,055		30	%		7	%

Total TA net sales	$	84,653		100	%	$	82,344		100	%		3	%


	Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		% of Total			September 30, 2023		% of Total			% change
TA instrument systems	$	167,319		68	%	$	178,087		71	%		(6	%)
TA service		78,242		32	%		74,197		29	%		5	%

Total TA net sales	$	245,561		100	%	$	252,284		100	%		(3	%)

TA sales growth for the third quarter of 2024 was broad-based across most major geographies, with the exception of China, and was primarily driven by strong customer demand for our thermal analysis instruments and services. During the first nine months of 2024, TA sales decreased 3% due to lower customer demand for TA instrument systems across most major regions. Foreign currency translation increased sales by 1% for the third quarter and decreased 1% for the first nine months of 2024.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased 4% in the third quarter of 2024 and decreased 3% in the first nine months of 2024. The increase in the third quarter is primarily due to higher sales volume, while the decrease in the first nine months of 2024 is primarily due to lower sales volume and changes in sales mix. Cost of sales is affected by many factors, including, but not limited to, foreign currency translation, product mix, product costs of instrument systems and amortization of software platforms. At current foreign currency exchange rates, the Company expects foreign currency translation to decrease gross profit during 2024.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses decreased 9% and 7% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as the cost savings from the recent workforce reductions that occurred in March 2024 and the absence of costs incurred in the prior year relating to severance charges in connection with the 2023 workforce reduction, the Wyatt acquisition-related retention expenses and the Wyatt acquisition costs were partially offset by an increase in annual incentive compensation expenses. The effect of foreign currency translation had minimal impact on selling and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2024 and decreased expenses by 1% for the first nine months of 2024.

As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses were 22.8% and 24.8% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, and 26.2% and 26.0% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, respectively.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased 8% and 4% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively. The increase in these periods was driven by costs associated with the development of new product and technology initiatives. The impact of foreign currency exchange increased expenses by 3% for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024.

Purchased Intangibles Amortization

The increase in purchased intangibles amortization of $15 million in the first nine months of 2024, is due to the Wyatt acquisition intangible assets.

Litigation Provisions

The Company incurred $12 million of litigation provisions in the first nine months of 2024, primarily related to a patent litigation settlement.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense, net decreased $9 million in the third quarter of 2024 as a result of lower average outstanding debt as compared to the third quarter of 2023. For the first nine months of 2024, interest expense increased $2 million as a result of slightly higher average outstanding debt as compared to the first nine months of 2023. The average outstanding debt in these periods was impacted by the timing of the borrowings to fund the Wyatt acquisition, which closed in May 2023, as well as the timing of the repayment of $755 million of debt since the completion of the acquisition.

Provision for Income Taxes

The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the statutory tax rates were 21%, 12.5%, 25% and 17%, respectively, as of September 28, 2024. The Company has a Development and Expansion Incentive in Singapore that provides a concessionary income tax rate of 5% on certain types of income for the period April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. The effect of applying the concessionary income tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income by $9 million and $11 million and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.15 and $0.18 for the third quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2024 and 2023 was 16.6% and 12.2%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate can be primarily attributed to the impact of discrete tax benefits in the prior year and differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023 was 15.0% and 14.6%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate can be attributed to the impact of discrete tax benefits in the prior year and differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

Effective in 2024, various foreign jurisdictions began implementing aspects of the guidance issued by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development related to the new Pillar Two system of global minimum tax rules. These changes in tax law did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024. The Company continues to monitor the adoption of the Pillar Two rules in additional jurisdictions.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Net income	$	406,436		$	426,029
Depreciation and amortization		143,250			117,845
Stock-based compensation		32,993			32,224
Deferred income taxes		(1,967	)		267
Change in accounts receivable		27,457			100,327
Change in inventories		(2,032	)		(81,415	)
Change in accounts payable and other current liabilities		36,485			(130,065	)
Change in deferred revenue and customer advances		37,972			38,959
Other changes		(158,610	)		(131,484	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		521,984			372,687
Net cash used in investing activities		(91,910	)		(1,404,321	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(503,097	)		885,438
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		8,461			2,081

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	$	(64,562	)	$	(144,115	)

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $522 million and $373 million during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in 2024 operating cash flow was primarily a result of higher cash collections, lower inventory levels and lower incentive bonus payments, partially offset by lower net income. The changes within net cash provided by operating activities include the following significant changes in the sources and uses of net cash provided by operating activities, aside from the changes in net income:

•

The changes in accounts receivable were primarily attributable to the timing of payments made by customers and timing of sales. Days sales outstanding was 82 days at September 28, 2024 and 81 days at September 30, 2023.

•

The change in inventory can primarily be attributed to the reduction in our production plan as a result of the decline in sales.

•

The change in accounts payable and other current liabilities for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 compared to 2023 were attributable to lower annual incentive payments of $48 million, lower tax payments of $38 million in the current year and the timing of payments to vendors.

•

Other changes were attributable to variation in the timing of various provisions, expenditures, prepaid income taxes and accruals in other current assets, other assets and other liabilities.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $92 million and $1.4 billion in the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additions to fixed assets and capitalized software were $90 million and $119 million in the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily due to the completion of the Company’s new manufacturing facilities.

During the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, the Company purchased $3 million and $2 million of investments, respectively, while $3 million and $2 million of investments matured, respectively, and were used for financing activities described below.

On May 16, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Wyatt for a total purchase price of $1.3 billion in cash. Wyatt is a pioneer in innovative light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments, software, accessories, and services.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

The Company has a credit agreement with an aggregate borrowing capacity of $2.0 billion. As of September 28, 2024, the Company had a total of $1.8 billion in outstanding debt, which consisted of $1.3 billion in outstanding senior unsecured notes and $570 million borrowed under its credit agreement. The Company’s net debt borrowings decreased by $530 million and increased by $0.9 billion during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the prior year increase primarily being due to the funding of the Wyatt acquisition.

In July 2024, the Company entered into a private Master Note Facility Agreement (the “Shelf Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company may, at its option, authorize the issuance and sale of senior promissory notes (the “Shelf Notes”) up to an aggregate amount of $200 million. The Company entered into the Shelf Agreement to increase its borrowing capacity for general corporate purposes. The Company has not issued any Shelf Notes pursuant to the Shelf Agreement through the date of these financial statements.

As of September 28, 2024, the Company had entered into interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreements with durations up to three years with an aggregate notional value of $625 million to hedge the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its euro-denominated and yen-denominated net asset investments. As a result of entering into these agreements, the Company lowered net interest expense by approximately $8 million during both the first nine months of 2024 and 2023. The Company anticipates that these swap agreements will lower net interest expense by approximately $10 million in 2024.

In December 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of its existing share repurchase program through January 21, 2025. The Company’s remaining authorization is $1.0 billion. During the first nine months of 2023, the Company repurchased $58 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock under the Company’s share repurchase program. In addition, the Company repurchased $13 million and $12 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions, given current cash levels and debt borrowing capacity.

The Company received $25 million and $18 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the purchase of shares pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $331 million as of September 28, 2024. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are generated from foreign operations, with $287 million held by foreign subsidiaries at September 28, 2024, of which $234 million was held in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

Contractual Obligations, Commercial Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Dividends

A summary of the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024. The Company reviewed its contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of September 28, 2024 and determined that there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business from the information set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that it has meritorious arguments in its current litigation matters and that any outcome, either individually or in the aggregate, will not be material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

During fiscal year 2024, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $3 million to $6 million to its defined benefit plans.

The Company has not paid any dividends and has no plans, at this time, to pay any dividends in the future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates upon which its financial status depends were identified as those relating to revenue recognition, valuation of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill, income taxes, uncertain tax positions and business combinations and asset acquisitions. The Company reviewed its policies and determined that those policies remain the Company’s most critical accounting policies for the nine months ended September 28, 2024. The Company did not make any changes in those policies during the nine months ended September 28, 2024.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Please refer to Note 13, Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments, in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the information incorporated by reference herein, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “feels”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “intends”, “suggests”, “appears”, “estimates”, “projects”, “should” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company, including, and without limitation:

•

foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations potentially affecting translation of the Company’s future non-U.S. operating results, particularly when a foreign currency weakens against the U.S. dollar;

•

current global economic, sovereign and political conditions and uncertainties, including the effect of new or proposed tariff or trade regulations, as well as other new or changed domestic and foreign laws, regulations and policies, changes in inflation and interest rates, the impacts and costs of war, in particular as a result of the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East, and the possibility of further escalation resulting in new geopolitical and regulatory instability and the Chinese government’s ongoing tightening of restrictions on procurement by government-funded customers;

•

the Company’s ability to access capital, maintain liquidity and service the Company’s debt in volatile market conditions;

•

risks related to the effects of any pandemic on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects;

•

changes in timing and demand for the Company’s products among the Company’s customers and various market sectors, particularly as a result of fluctuations in their expenditures or ability to obtain funding;

•

the ability to realize the expected benefits related to the Company’s various cost-saving initiatives, including workforce reductions and organizational restructurings;

•

the introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share, as well as pressures on prices from competitors and/or customers;

•

changes in the competitive landscape as a result of changes in ownership, mergers and continued consolidation among the Company’s competitors;

•

regulatory, economic and competitive obstacles to new product introductions, lack of acceptance of new products and inability to grow organically through innovation;

•

rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence;

•

risks associated with previous or future acquisitions, strategic investments, joint ventures and divestitures, including risks associated with achieving the anticipated financial results and operational synergies; contingent purchase price payments; and expansion of our business into new or developing markets;

•

risks associated with unexpected disruptions in operations;

•

failure to adequately protect the Company’s intellectual property, infringement of intellectual property rights of third parties and inability to obtain licenses on commercially reasonable terms;

•

the Company’s ability to acquire adequate sources of supply and its reliance on outside contractors for certain components and modules, as well as disruptions to its supply chain;

•

risks associated with third-party sales intermediaries and resellers;

•

the impact and costs of changes in statutory or contractual tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates as well as shifts in taxable income among jurisdictions with different effective tax rates, the outcome of ongoing and future tax examinations and changes in legislation affecting the Company’s effective tax rate;

•

the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees and management personnel;

•

risks associated with cybersecurity and technology, including attempts by third parties to defeat the security measures of the Company and its third-party partners;

•

increased regulatory burdens as the Company’s business evolves, especially with respect to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others, and in connection with government contracts;

•

regulatory, environmental and logistical obstacles affecting the distribution of the Company’s products, completion of purchase order documentation and the ability of customers to obtain letters of credit or other financing alternatives;

•

risks associated with litigation and other legal and regulatory proceedings; and

•

the impact and costs incurred from changes in accounting principles and practices.

Certain of these and other factors are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements, whether because of these factors or for other reasons. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to the risk of interest rate fluctuations from the investments of cash generated from operations. Investments with maturities greater than 90 days are classified as investments and are held primarily in U.S. dollar-denominated treasury bills and commercial paper, bank deposits and corporate debt securities. As of September 28, 2024, the Company estimates that a hypothetical adverse change of 100 basis points across all maturities would not have a material effect on the fair market value of its portfolio.

The Company is also exposed to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. The Company maintains cash balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $287 million out of $331 million and $321 million out of $396 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries. In addition, $234 million out of $331 million and $233 million out of $396 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. As of September 28, 2024, the Company had no holdings in auction rate securities or commercial paper issued by structured investment vehicles.

Assuming a hypothetical adverse change of 10% in year-end exchange rates (a strengthening of the U.S. dollar), the fair market value of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar as of September 28, 2024 would decrease by approximately $23 million, of which the majority would be recorded to foreign currency translation in other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity.

There have been no other material changes in the Company’s market risk during the nine months ended September 28, 2024. For information regarding the Company’s market risk, refer to Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024.

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer (principal executive officer and principal financial officer), with the participation of management, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 28, 2024 (1) to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure and (2) to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No change was identified in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 28, 2024 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II: Other Information

Item 1: Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes in the Company’s legal proceedings during the nine months ended September 28, 2024 as described in Item 3 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024, other than the $12 million litigation costs primarily related to patent settlements recorded in the nine months ended September 28, 2024.

Item 1A: Risk Factors

Information regarding risk factors of the Company is set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024. The Company reviewed its risk factors as of September 28, 2024 and determined that there were no material changes from the ones set forth in the Form 10-K. Note, however, the discussion of certain factors under the subheading “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These risks are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems to be immaterial may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

During the three months ended September 28, 2024, the Company purchased 216, 58 and 159 shares at a cost of $66 thousand, $20 thousand and $55 thousand with average prices paid of $304.43, $340.26 and $347.55 during fiscal July, August and September, respectively, of equity securities registered by the Company under the Exchange Act.

In January 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $4 billion of its outstanding common stock in open market or private transactions over a two-year period. This program replaced the remaining amounts available under the pre-existing authorization. In December 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of the share repurchase program through January 21, 2023. In December 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors amended and extended this repurchase program’s term by one year such that it expired on January 21, 2024 and increased the total authorization level to $4.8 billion, an increase of $750 million. In December 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of the share repurchase program through January 21, 2025. As of September 28, 2024, the Company had repurchased an aggregate of 15.2 million shares at a cost of $3.8 billion under the January 2019 repurchase program and had a total of $1.0 billion authorized for future repurchases. The size and timing of these purchases, if any, will depend on our stock price and market and business conditions, as well as other factors.

Item 5:

Other Information

Insider Trading Arrangements and Related Disclosures

None.

Item 6: Exhibits


Exhibit Number		Description of Document

31.1		Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2		Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1		Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(*)

32.2		Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(*)

101		The following materials from Waters Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 28, 2024, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited), (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited), (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited), (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) and (vi) Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

104		Cover Page Interactive Date File (formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

(*)

This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filing, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

WATERS CORPORATION

/s/ Amol Chaubal

Amol Chaubal

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

(Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: November 1, 2024

Exhibit 31.1

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Udit Batra, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Waters Corporation;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 1, 2024

/s/ Udit Batra, Ph.D.

Udit Batra, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Amol Chaubal, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Waters Corporation;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 1, 2024

/s/ Amol Chaubal

Amol Chaubal

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.1

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.

SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The certification set forth below is hereby made solely for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and may not be relied upon or used for any other purposes.

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Waters Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 28, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Udit Batra, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge: (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Date: November 1, 2024

By: /s/ Udit Batra, Ph.D.

Udit Batra, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.2

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.

SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Waters Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 28, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Amol Chaubal, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge: (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 1, 2024

By: /s/ Amol Chaubal

Amol Chaubal

Chief Financial Officer

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
Cover Page - shares	Sep. 28, 2024	Oct. 25, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2024
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0001000697
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 28, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	Waters Corporation
Entity File Number	01-14010
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3668640
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Address, Address Line One	34 Maple Street
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Address, City or Town	Milford
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	01757
City Area Code	508
Local Phone Number	478-2000
Trading Symbol	WAT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		59,376,174

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 330,514	$ 395,076
Investments	944	898
Accounts receivable, net	669,534	702,168
Inventories	518,994	516,236
Other current assets	127,738	138,489
Total current assets	1,647,724	1,752,867
Property, plant and equipment, net	642,627	639,073
Intangible assets, net	591,883	629,187
Goodwill	1,306,593	1,305,446
Operating lease assets	76,642	84,591
Other assets	246,151	215,690
Total assets	4,511,620	4,626,854
Current liabilities:
Notes payable and debt	0	50,000
Accounts payable	94,596	84,705
Accrued employee compensation	79,356	69,391
Deferred revenue and customer advances	294,884	256,675
Current operating lease liabilities	25,346	27,825
Accrued income taxes	150,242	120,257
Accrued warranty	10,491	12,050
Other current liabilities	161,125	168,677
Total current liabilities	816,040	789,580
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,826,248	2,305,513
Long-term portion of retirement benefits	51,007	47,559
Long-term income tax liabilities	17,819	137,123
Long-term operating lease liabilities	53,234	58,926
Other long-term liabilities	144,173	137,812
Total long-term liabilities	2,092,481	2,686,933
Total liabilities	2,908,521	3,476,513
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6, 7 and 9)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 400,000 shares authorized, 162,940 and 162,709 shares issued, 59,367 and 59,176 shares outstanding at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively	1,629	1,627
Additional paid-in capital	2,324,225	2,266,265
Retained earnings	9,557,257	9,150,821
Treasury stock, at cost, 103,573 and 103,533 shares at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively	(10,147,727)	(10,134,252)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(132,285)	(134,120)
Total stockholders' equity	1,603,099	1,150,341
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 4,511,620	$ 4,626,854

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value per share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000	5,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value per share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	400,000	400,000
Common stock, shares issued	162,940	162,709
Common stock, shares outstanding	59,367	59,176
Treasury stock, shares	103,573	103,533

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Revenues:
Total net sales	$ 740,305	$ 711,692	$ 2,085,673	$ 2,136,942
Costs and operating expenses:
Selling and administrative expenses	169,097	186,748	516,880	555,657
Research and development expenses	45,336	41,995	136,113	130,559
Purchased intangibles amortization	11,759	12,116	35,337	20,410
Litigation provision	1,326	0	11,568	0
Total costs and operating expenses	529,173	532,266	1,551,583	1,583,489
Operating income	211,132	179,426	534,090	553,453
Other (expense) income, net	(338)	328	1,619	1,364
Interest expense	(21,435)	(30,442)	(70,681)	(68,158)
Interest income	4,258	3,883	12,857	11,984
Income before income taxes	193,617	153,195	477,885	498,643
Provision for income taxes	32,114	18,643	71,449	72,614
Net income	$ 161,503	$ 134,552	$ 406,436	$ 426,029
Net income per basic common share	$ 2.72	$ 2.28	$ 6.85	$ 7.21
Weighted-average number of basic common shares	59,367	59,093	59,314	59,061
Net income per diluted common share	$ 2.71	$ 2.27	$ 6.83	$ 7.19
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents	59,504	59,255	59,471	59,262
Product [Member]
Revenues:
Total net sales	$ 462,011	$ 448,081	$ 1,273,306	$ 1,362,464
Costs and operating expenses:
Costs and operating expenses	193,378	184,332	522,396	559,040
Service [Member]
Revenues:
Total net sales	278,294	263,611	812,367	774,478
Costs and operating expenses:
Costs and operating expenses	$ 108,277	$ 107,075	$ 329,289	$ 317,823

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 161,503	$ 134,552	$ 406,436	$ 426,029
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	18,668	(17,676)	2,453	(4,909)
Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments before reclassifications	(3,025)	603	209	603
Amounts reclassified to interest income	(366)	(93)	(940)	(93)
Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments before income taxes	(3,391)	510	(731)	510
Income tax benefit (expense)	814	(122)	176	(122)
Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments, net of tax	(2,577)	388	(555)	388
Retirement liability adjustment before reclassifications	(211)	(200)	(60)	(29)
Amounts reclassified to other income, net	(10)	(75)	(68)	(242)
Retirement liability adjustment before income taxes	(221)	(275)	(128)	(271)
Income tax benefit	47	66	65	67
Retirement liability adjustment, net of tax	(174)	(209)	(63)	(204)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	15,917	(17,497)	1,835	(4,725)
Comprehensive income	$ 177,420	$ 117,055	$ 408,271	$ 421,304

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 406,436	$ 426,029
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	32,993	32,224
Deferred income taxes	(1,967)	267
Depreciation	64,680	62,235
Amortization of intangibles	78,570	55,610
Realized gain on sale of investment	0	(651)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable	27,457	100,327
Increase in inventories	(2,032)	(81,415)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets	1,279	(24,066)
Increase in other assets	(18,416)	(23,432)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	36,485	(130,065)
Increase in deferred revenue and customer advances	37,972	38,959
Decrease in other liabilities	(141,473)	(83,335)
Net cash provided by operating activities	521,984	372,687
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization	(90,377)	(119,044)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(1,285,907)
(Investments in) proceeds from unaffiliated companies	(1,489)	651
Purchases of investments	(2,796)	(1,791)
Maturities and sales of investments	2,752	1,770
Net cash used in investing activities	(91,910)	(1,404,321)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuances	170,000	1,450,041
Payments on debt	(700,000)	(520,040)
Payments of debt issuance costs	0	(400)
Proceeds from stock plans	25,073	18,092
Purchases of treasury shares	(13,475)	(70,433)
Proceeds from derivative contracts	15,305	8,178
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(503,097)	885,438
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	8,461	2,081
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(64,562)	(144,115)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	395,076	480,529
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 330,514	$ 336,414

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 504,488	$ 1,624	$ 2,199,824	$ 8,508,587	$ (10,063,975)	$ (141,572)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2022		162,425
Net income	426,029			426,029
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,725)					(4,725)
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan	8,691		8,691
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares		31
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised	8,370	$ 1	8,369
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares		51
Treasury stock	(70,433)				(70,433)
Stock-based compensation	33,102	$ 2	33,100
Stock-based compensation, shares		142
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	905,522	$ 1,627	2,249,984	8,934,616	(10,134,408)	(146,297)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2023		162,649
Beginning balance at Jul. 01, 2023	771,229	$ 1,626	2,232,055	8,800,064	(10,133,716)	(128,800)
Beginning Balance, shares at Jul. 01, 2023		162,576
Net income	134,552			134,552
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(17,497)					(17,497)
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2,758		2,758
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares		10
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised	5,084	$ 0	5,084
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares		35
Treasury stock	(692)				(692)
Stock-based compensation	10,088	$ 1	10,087
Stock-based compensation, shares		28
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	905,522	$ 1,627	2,249,984	8,934,616	(10,134,408)	(146,297)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2023		162,649
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023	1,150,341	$ 1,627	2,266,265	9,150,821	(10,134,252)	(134,120)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2023		162,709
Net income	406,436			406,436
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,835					1,835
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan	7,341		7,341
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares		27
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised	18,348	$ 1	18,347
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares		87
Treasury stock	(13,475)				(13,475)
Stock-based compensation	32,273	$ 1	32,272
Stock-based compensation, shares		117
Ending balance at Sep. 28, 2024	1,603,099	$ 1,629	2,324,225	9,557,257	(10,147,727)	(132,285)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 28, 2024		162,940
Beginning balance at Jun. 29, 2024	1,411,967	$ 1,629	2,310,372	9,395,754	(10,147,586)	(148,202)
Beginning Balance, shares at Jun. 29, 2024		162,926
Net income	161,503			161,503
Other comprehensive income (loss)	15,917					15,917
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2,551		2,551
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares		9
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised	736		736
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares		4
Treasury stock	(141)				(141)
Stock-based compensation	10,566		10,566
Stock-based compensation, shares		1
Ending balance at Sep. 28, 2024	$ 1,603,099	$ 1,629	$ 2,324,225	$ 9,557,257	$ (10,147,727)	$ (132,285)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 28, 2024		162,940

Insider Trading Arrangements	9 Months Ended
Insider Trading Arrangements	Sep. 28, 2024
Trading Arrangements, by Individual
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(“LC-MS”)

LC-MS

four-and-a-half

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions in Form

10-Q

10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2024.

Risks and Uncertainties

Translation of Foreign Currencies

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

off-balance

sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

re-possess,

refurbish and

re-sell

the instrument. This adjusted fair value is compared to the receivable balance and the difference would be recorded as the expected credit loss.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Additions		Deductions and Other			Balance at End of Period
Allowance for Credit Losses
September 28, 2024	$	19,335	$	4,109	$	(7,451	)	$	15,993
September 30, 2023	$	14,311	$	3,727	$	(3,434	)	$	14,604

Fair Value Measurements

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 28, 2024 (in thousands):


	Total at September 28, 2024		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	944	$	—	$	944	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		30,711		30,711		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		93		—		93		—

Total	$	31,748	$	30,711	$	1,037	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	60	$	—	$	60	$	—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		22,764		—		22,764		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		3,705		—		3,705		—

Total	$	26,529	$	—	$	26,529	$	—

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	Total at December 31, 2023		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	898	$	—	$	898	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		28,995		28,995		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		183		—		183		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		4,835		—		4,835		—

Total	$	34,911	$	28,995	$	5,916	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts		207		—		207		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		13,384		—		13,384		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		2,974		—		2,974		—

Total	$	16,565	$	—	$	16,565	$	—

Fair Value of 401(k) Restoration Plan Assets

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investments, Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts, Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements and Interest Rate Swap Cash Flow Hedges

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

billion at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023 using Level 2 inputs.

Derivative Transactions

non-U.S.

dollar foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars and when any of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase or sell products or services in a currency other than its own currency.

yen-denominated

net asset investments. The

Company

presents the derivative transactions in financing activities in the statement of cash flows.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

Cash Flow Hedges

3-month

150

million to effectively

lock-in

de-designated

Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements

yen-denominated


	September 28, 2024					December 31, 2023
	Notional Value		Fair Value			Notional Value		Fair Value
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Other current assets	$	16,000	$	93		$	24,155	$	183
Other current liabilities	$	23,918	$	60		$	16,000	$	207
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Other assets	$	—	$	—		$	220,000	$	4,835
Other liabilities	$	625,000	$	22,764		$	405,000	$	13,384
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(14,750	)			$	(7,975	)
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Other liabilities	$	150,000	$	3,705		$	100,000	$	2,974
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(3,705	)			$	(2,974	)

The following is a summary of

the

activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related

the

foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges (in thousands):


	Financial Statement Classification		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	Financial Statement Classification		September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts		Cost of sales	$	(138	)	$	(755	)	$	914		$	(50	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Cost of sales		(26	)		168			39			(123	)

Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains		Cost of sales	$	(164	)	$	(587	)	$	953		$	(173	)

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	2,486		$	2,720		$	7,613		$	8,048
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(28,339	)	$	18,936		$	(6,775	)	$	10,280
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	366		$	93		$	940		$	93
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(3,391	)	$	510		$	(731	)	$	510

Stockholders’ Equity

Product Warranty Costs

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Accruals for Warranties		Settlements Made			Balance at End of Period
Accrued warranty liability:
September 28, 2024	$	12,050	$	3,812	$	(5,371	)	$	10,491
September 30, 2023	$	11,949	$	4,813	$	(5,642	)	$	11,120

Restructuring

In March 2024, the Company had a reduction in workforce that impacted approximately 2

% of the Company’s employees, primarily in China, where there had been a significant decline in sales as a result of lower customer demand. As a result, the Company incurred approximately $

8 million of severance-related costs. During the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company paid $13

million of severance-related costs in connection with the workforce reductions that occurred in March 2024 and July 2023. The accrued restructuring expense was approximately $

2 million at September 28, 2024 and $8 million at December 31, 2023 and included in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

2 Revenue Recognition

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s deferred revenue and customer advances for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	323,516		$	285,175
Recognition of revenue included in balance at beginning of the period		(242,302	)		(222,001	)
Revenue deferred during the period, net of revenue recognized		276,515			276,277

Balance at the end of the period	$	357,729		$	339,451

The Company classified $63 million and $67 million of deferred revenue and customer advances in other long-term liabilities at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.


	September 28, 2024

Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized in:
One year or less	$	294,884
13-24 months		38,785
25 months and beyond		24,060

Total	$	357,729

Marketable Securities	9 Months Ended
Marketable Securities	Sep. 28, 2024
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	3 Marketable Securities The Company’s marketable securities within cash equivalents and investments included in the consolidated balance sheets consist of time deposits that mature in one year or less with an amortized cost and a fair value of $0.9 million at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Inventories

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories

4 Inventories

Inventories are classified as

follows

(in thousands):


	September 28, 2024		December 31, 2023
Raw materials	$	241,378	$	233,952
Work in progress		23,555		20,198
Finished goods		254,061		262,086

Total inventories	$	518,994	$	516,236

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

5 Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The carrying amount of goodwill was $1.3 billion at both September 28, 2024 and December

2023

The Company’s intangible assets included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (dollars in thousands):


	September 28, 2024							December 31, 2023
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Weighted- Average Amortization Period			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Weighted- Average Amortization Period
Capitalized software	$	695,610	$	531,662		5	years	$	660,273	$	495,317		5	years
Purchased intangibles		614,768		232,928		10	years		614,357		197,154		10	years
Trademarks		9,680		—		—			9,680		—		—
Licenses		15,430		9,832		7	years		14,798		8,429		7	years
Patents and other intangibles		118,128		87,311		8	years		111,962		80,983		8	years

Total	$	1,453,616	$	861,733		7	years	$	1,411,070	$	781,883		7	years

in the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and Sep

tember

30, 2023, respectively. The increase in intangible assets in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a result of the Wyatt

acquisition.

The

Amortization

expense for intangible assets was $28 million and $26

million for the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets was

Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

6 Debt

Shelf

Agreement.

The Company has a

five-year

As of both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had a total of $

1.3

The Company had the following outstanding debt at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024			December 31, 2023
Senior unsecured notes - Series G - 3.92 %, due June 2024		—			50,000

Total notes payable and debt, current		—			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K - 3.44 %, due May 2026		160,000			160,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series L - 3.31 %, due September 2026		200,000			200,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series M - 3.53 %, due September 2029		300,000			300,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series N - 1.68 %, due March 2026		100,000			100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series O - 2.25 %, due March 2031		400,000			400,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series P - 4.91 %, due May 2028		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series Q - 4.91 %, due May 2030		50,000			50,000
Credit agreement		570,000			1,050,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(3,752	)		(4,487	)

Total long-term debt		1,826,248			2,305,513

Total debt	$	1,826,248		$	2,355,513

The Company and its foreign subsidiaries also had available short-term lines of credit totaling $

million and $

114

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Sep. 28, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	7 Income Taxes The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the statutory tax rates were 21%, 12.5%, 25% and 17%, respectively, as of September 28, 2024. The Company has a Development and Expansion Incentive in Singapore that provides a concessionary income tax rate of 5% on certain types of income for the period April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. The effect of applying the concessionary income tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income arising from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 by $9 million and $11 million, respectively, and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.15 and $0.18, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 was 16.6 % and 12.2 %, respectively. The increase between the effective tax rates can be primarily attributed to the impact of discrete tax benefits in the prior year and differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 was 15.0% and 14.6 %, respectively. The increase between the effective tax rates can primarily be attributed to the impact of discrete tax benefits in the prior year and differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates. The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return positions in accordance with the accounting standards for income taxes, which require financial statement reporting of the expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax reporting positions on the presumption that all concerned tax authorities possess full knowledge of those tax reporting positions, as well as all of the pertinent facts and circumstances, but prohibit any discounting of unrecognized tax benefits associated with those reporting positions for the time value of money. The Company continues to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes. The Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, at September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 were $15 million and $32 million, respectively. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to tax audit examinations in significant jurisdictions for the years ended on or before December 31, 2018. The Company continuously monitors the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments for related changes in the measurement of unrecognized tax benefits, related net interest and penalties, and deferred tax assets and liabilities. Effective in 2024, various foreign jurisdictions began implementing aspects of the guidance issued by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development related to the new Pillar Two system of global minimum tax rules. These changes in tax law did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024. The Company continues to monitor the adoption of the Pillar Two rules in additional jurisdictions.

Litigation	9 Months Ended
Litigation	Sep. 28, 2024
Litigation Settlement [Abstract]
Litigation	8 Litigation From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes it has meritorious arguments in its current litigation matters and believes any outcome, either individually or in the aggregate, will not be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. During the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company recorded $12 million and paid $ 10 million of patent litigation settlement and related costs.

Other Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Other Commitments and Contingencies	Sep. 28, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Commitments and Contingencies	9 Other Commitments and Contingencies The Company licenses certain technology and software from third parties in the course of ordinary business. Future minimum license fees payable under existing license agreements as of September 28, 2024 are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2024 and thereafter. The Company enters into standard indemnification agreements in its ordinary course of business. Pursuant to these agreements, the Company indemnifies, holds harmless and agrees to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party, generally the Company’s business partners or customers, in connection with patent, copyright or other intellectual property infringement claims by any third party with respect to its current products, as well as claims relating to property damage or personal injury resulting from the performance of services by the Company or its subcontractors. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. Historically, the Company’s costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims relating to such indemnity agreements have been minimal and management accordingly believes the estimated fair value of these agreements is immaterial.

Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

10 Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted EPS calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share

data


	Three Months Ended September 28, 2024
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	161,503		59,367	$	2.72
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		137		(0.01	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	161,503		59,504	$	2.71


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	134,552		59,093	$	2.28
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		162		(0.01	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	134,552		59,255	$	2.27


	Nine Months Ended September 28, 2024
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	406,436		59,314	$	6.85
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		157		(0.02	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	406,436		59,471	$	6.83


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	426,029		59,061	$	7.21
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		201		(0.02	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	426,029		59,262	$	7.19

The Company had

130

355

thousand and

264

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Equity [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

11 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are detailed as follows (in thousands):


	Currency Translation			Unrealized Loss on Retirement Plans			Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Balance at December 31, 2023	$	(128,359	)	$	(3,501	)	$	(2,260	)	$	(134,120	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		2,453			(63	)		(555	)		1,835

Balance at September 28, 2024	$	(125,906	)	$	(3,564	)	$	(2,815	)	$	(132,285	)

Business Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business Segment Information

12 Business Segment Information

and TA

Net sales for the Company’s products and services are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Product net sales:
Waters instrument systems	$	265,273	$	262,142	$	691,760	$	786,293
Chemistry consumables		138,935		128,650		414,227		398,084
TA instrument systems		57,803		57,289		167,319		178,087

Total product sales		462,011		448,081		1,273,306		1,362,464
Service net sales:
Waters service		251,444		238,556		734,125		700,281
TA service		26,850		25,055		78,242		74,197

Total service sales		278,294		263,611		812,367		774,478

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Net Sales:
Asia:
China	$	100,049	$	102,081	$	285,899	$	333,127
Japan		43,096		40,069		111,995		123,943
Asia Other		108,184		96,078		298,425		288,862

Total Asia		251,329		238,228		696,319		745,932
Americas:
United States		236,182		231,773		670,952		673,033
Americas Other		42,954		43,706		123,823		131,794

Total Americas		279,136		275,479		794,775		804,827
Europe		209,840		197,985		594,579		586,183

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Net sales by customer class are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Pharmaceutical	$	430,138	$	421,535	$	1,220,092	$	1,233,177
Industrial		227,740		209,449		644,459		648,754
Academic and government		82,427		80,708		221,122		255,011

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Net sales for the Company recognized at a point in time versus over time are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Net sales recognized at a point in time:
Instrument systems	$	323,076	$	319,431	$	859,079	$	964,380
Chemistry consumables		138,935		128,650		414,227		398,084
Service sales recognized at a point in time (time & materials)		91,045		88,545		266,445		269,464

Total net sales recognized at a point in time		553,056		536,626		1,539,751		1,631,928
Net sales recognized over time:
Service and software maintenance sales recognized over time (contracts)		187,249		175,066		545,922		505,014

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments	9 Months Ended
Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments	Sep. 28, 2024
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments	13 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments Recently Issued Accounting Standards There were no additions to the new accounting pronouncements not yet adopted as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Other amendments to U.S. GAAP that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Risks and Uncertainties

Translation of Foreign Currencies

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

off-balance

sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

re-possess,

refurbish and

re-sell

the instrument. This adjusted fair value is compared to the receivable balance and the difference would be recorded as the expected credit loss.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Additions		Deductions and Other			Balance at End of Period
Allowance for Credit Losses
September 28, 2024	$	19,335	$	4,109	$	(7,451	)	$	15,993
September 30, 2023	$	14,311	$	3,727	$	(3,434	)	$	14,604

Fair Value Measurements

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 28, 2024 (in thousands):


	Total at September 28, 2024		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	944	$	—	$	944	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		30,711		30,711		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		93		—		93		—

Total	$	31,748	$	30,711	$	1,037	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	60	$	—	$	60	$	—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		22,764		—		22,764		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		3,705		—		3,705		—

Total	$	26,529	$	—	$	26,529	$	—

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	Total at December 31, 2023		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	898	$	—	$	898	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		28,995		28,995		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		183		—		183		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		4,835		—		4,835		—

Total	$	34,911	$	28,995	$	5,916	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts		207		—		207		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		13,384		—		13,384		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		2,974		—		2,974		—

Total	$	16,565	$	—	$	16,565	$	—

Fair Value of 401(k) Restoration Plan Assets

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investments, Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts, Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements and Interest Rate Swap Cash Flow Hedges

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

billion at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023 using Level 2 inputs.

Derivative Transactions

non-U.S.

dollar foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars and when any of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase or sell products or services in a currency other than its own currency.

yen-denominated

net asset investments. The

Company

presents the derivative transactions in financing activities in the statement of cash flows.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

Cash Flow Hedges

3-month

150

million to effectively

lock-in

de-designated

Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements

yen-denominated


	September 28, 2024					December 31, 2023
	Notional Value		Fair Value			Notional Value		Fair Value
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Other current assets	$	16,000	$	93		$	24,155	$	183
Other current liabilities	$	23,918	$	60		$	16,000	$	207
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Other assets	$	—	$	—		$	220,000	$	4,835
Other liabilities	$	625,000	$	22,764		$	405,000	$	13,384
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(14,750	)			$	(7,975	)
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Other liabilities	$	150,000	$	3,705		$	100,000	$	2,974
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(3,705	)			$	(2,974	)

The following is a summary of

the

activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related

the

foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges (in thousands):


	Financial Statement Classification		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	Financial Statement Classification		September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts		Cost of sales	$	(138	)	$	(755	)	$	914		$	(50	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Cost of sales		(26	)		168			39			(123	)

Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains		Cost of sales	$	(164	)	$	(587	)	$	953		$	(173	)

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	2,486		$	2,720		$	7,613		$	8,048
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(28,339	)	$	18,936		$	(6,775	)	$	10,280
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	366		$	93		$	940		$	93
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(3,391	)	$	510		$	(731	)	$	510

Cash Flow Hedges

3-month

150

million to effectively

lock-in

de-designated

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders’ Equity

Product Warranty Costs

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Accruals for Warranties		Settlements Made			Balance at End of Period
Accrued warranty liability:
September 28, 2024	$	12,050	$	3,812	$	(5,371	)	$	10,491
September 30, 2023	$	11,949	$	4,813	$	(5,642	)	$	11,120

Restructuring

In March 2024, the Company had a reduction in workforce that impacted approximately 2

% of the Company’s employees, primarily in China, where there had been a significant decline in sales as a result of lower customer demand. As a result, the Company incurred approximately $

8 million of severance-related costs. During the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company paid $13

million of severance-related costs in connection with the workforce reductions that occurred in March 2024 and July 2023. The accrued restructuring expense was approximately $

2 million at September 28, 2024 and $8 million at December 31, 2023 and included in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Activity of Company's Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Additions		Deductions and Other			Balance at End of Period
Allowance for Credit Losses
September 28, 2024	$	19,335	$	4,109	$	(7,451	)	$	15,993
September 30, 2023	$	14,311	$	3,727	$	(3,434	)	$	14,604

Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 28, 2024 (in thousands):


	Total at September 28, 2024		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	944	$	—	$	944	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		30,711		30,711		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		93		—		93		—

Total	$	31,748	$	30,711	$	1,037	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	60	$	—	$	60	$	—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		22,764		—		22,764		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		3,705		—		3,705		—

Total	$	26,529	$	—	$	26,529	$	—

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	Total at December 31, 2023		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits	$	898	$	—	$	898	$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		28,995		28,995		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		183		—		183		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		4,835		—		4,835		—

Total	$	34,911	$	28,995	$	5,916	$	—

Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts		207		—		207		—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements		13,384		—		13,384		—
Interest rate swap cash flow hedge		2,974		—		2,974		—

Total	$	16,565	$	—	$	16,565	$	—

Summary of Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts and Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements


	September 28, 2024					December 31, 2023
	Notional Value		Fair Value			Notional Value		Fair Value
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Other current assets	$	16,000	$	93		$	24,155	$	183
Other current liabilities	$	23,918	$	60		$	16,000	$	207
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Other assets	$	—	$	—		$	220,000	$	4,835
Other liabilities	$	625,000	$	22,764		$	405,000	$	13,384
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(14,750	)			$	(7,975	)
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Other liabilities	$	150,000	$	3,705		$	100,000	$	2,974
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$	(3,705	)			$	(2,974	)

Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts

The following is a summary of

the

activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related

the

foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges (in thousands):


	Financial Statement Classification		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	Financial Statement Classification		September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023			September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts		Cost of sales	$	(138	)	$	(755	)	$	914		$	(50	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Cost of sales		(26	)		168			39			(123	)

Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains		Cost of sales	$	(164	)	$	(587	)	$	953		$	(173	)

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	2,486		$	2,720		$	7,613		$	8,048
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(28,339	)	$	18,936		$	(6,775	)	$	10,280
Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:
Interest earned		Interest income	$	366		$	93		$	940		$	93
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		Other comprehensive income	$	(3,391	)	$	510		$	(731	)	$	510

Summary of Activity of Company's Accrued Warranty Liability

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Balance at Beginning of Period		Accruals for Warranties		Settlements Made			Balance at End of Period
Accrued warranty liability:
September 28, 2024	$	12,050	$	3,812	$	(5,371	)	$	10,491
September 30, 2023	$	11,949	$	4,813	$	(5,642	)	$	11,120

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Summary of Activity of Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s deferred revenue and customer advances for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024			September 30, 2023
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	323,516		$	285,175
Recognition of revenue included in balance at beginning of the period		(242,302	)		(222,001	)
Revenue deferred during the period, net of revenue recognized		276,515			276,277

Balance at the end of the period	$	357,729		$	339,451

Schedule of Amount of Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances


	September 28, 2024

Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized in:
One year or less	$	294,884
13-24 months		38,785
25 months and beyond		24,060

Total	$	357,729

Inventories (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventory, Net of Reserves

Inventories are classified as

follows

(in thousands):


	September 28, 2024		December 31, 2023
Raw materials	$	241,378	$	233,952
Work in progress		23,555		20,198
Finished goods		254,061		262,086

Total inventories	$	518,994	$	516,236

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Intangible Assets

The Company’s intangible assets included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (dollars in thousands):


	September 28, 2024							December 31, 2023
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Weighted- Average Amortization Period			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Weighted- Average Amortization Period
Capitalized software	$	695,610	$	531,662		5	years	$	660,273	$	495,317		5	years
Purchased intangibles		614,768		232,928		10	years		614,357		197,154		10	years
Trademarks		9,680		—		—			9,680		—		—
Licenses		15,430		9,832		7	years		14,798		8,429		7	years
Patents and other intangibles		118,128		87,311		8	years		111,962		80,983		8	years

Total	$	1,453,616	$	861,733		7	years	$	1,411,070	$	781,883		7	years

Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Outstanding Debt

The Company had the following outstanding debt at September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):


	September 28, 2024			December 31, 2023
Senior unsecured notes - Series G - 3.92 %, due June 2024		—			50,000

Total notes payable and debt, current		—			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K - 3.44 %, due May 2026		160,000			160,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series L - 3.31 %, due September 2026		200,000			200,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series M - 3.53 %, due September 2029		300,000			300,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series N - 1.68 %, due March 2026		100,000			100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series O - 2.25 %, due March 2031		400,000			400,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series P - 4.91 %, due May 2028		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series Q - 4.91 %, due May 2030		50,000			50,000
Credit agreement		570,000			1,050,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(3,752	)		(4,487	)

Total long-term debt		1,826,248			2,305,513

Total debt	$	1,826,248		$	2,355,513

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share Reconciliation

Basic and diluted EPS calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share

data


	Three Months Ended September 28, 2024
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	161,503		59,367	$	2.72
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		137		(0.01	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	161,503		59,504	$	2.71


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	134,552		59,093	$	2.28
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		162		(0.01	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	134,552		59,255	$	2.27


	Nine Months Ended September 28, 2024
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	406,436		59,314	$	6.85
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		157		(0.02	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	406,436		59,471	$	6.83


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	426,029		59,061	$	7.21
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		201		(0.02	)

Net income per diluted common share	$	426,029		59,262	$	7.19

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are detailed as follows (in thousands):


	Currency Translation			Unrealized Loss on Retirement Plans			Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Balance at December 31, 2023	$	(128,359	)	$	(3,501	)	$	(2,260	)	$	(134,120	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		2,453			(63	)		(555	)		1,835

Balance at September 28, 2024	$	(125,906	)	$	(3,564	)	$	(2,815	)	$	(132,285	)

Business Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2024

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summary of Net Sales for Company's Products and Services

Net sales for the Company’s products and services are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Product net sales:
Waters instrument systems	$	265,273	$	262,142	$	691,760	$	786,293
Chemistry consumables		138,935		128,650		414,227		398,084
TA instrument systems		57,803		57,289		167,319		178,087

Total product sales		462,011		448,081		1,273,306		1,362,464
Service net sales:
Waters service		251,444		238,556		734,125		700,281
TA service		26,850		25,055		78,242		74,197

Total service sales		278,294		263,611		812,367		774,478

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Summary of Geographic Sales Information


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Net Sales:
Asia:
China	$	100,049	$	102,081	$	285,899	$	333,127
Japan		43,096		40,069		111,995		123,943
Asia Other		108,184		96,078		298,425		288,862

Total Asia		251,329		238,228		696,319		745,932
Americas:
United States		236,182		231,773		670,952		673,033
Americas Other		42,954		43,706		123,823		131,794

Total Americas		279,136		275,479		794,775		804,827
Europe		209,840		197,985		594,579		586,183

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Summary of Net Sales by Customer Class

Net sales by customer class are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Pharmaceutical	$	430,138	$	421,535	$	1,220,092	$	1,233,177
Industrial		227,740		209,449		644,459		648,754
Academic and government		82,427		80,708		221,122		255,011

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Summary of Net Sales of Company Recognized at a Point in Time Versus Over Time

Net sales for the Company recognized at a point in time versus over time are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023		September 28, 2024		September 30, 2023
Net sales recognized at a point in time:
Instrument systems	$	323,076	$	319,431	$	859,079	$	964,380
Chemistry consumables		138,935		128,650		414,227		398,084
Service sales recognized at a point in time (time & materials)		91,045		88,545		266,445		269,464

Total net sales recognized at a point in time		553,056		536,626		1,539,751		1,631,928
Net sales recognized over time:
Service and software maintenance sales recognized over time (contracts)		187,249		175,066		545,922		505,014

Total net sales	$	740,305	$	711,692	$	2,085,673	$	2,136,942

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 16, 2023	Mar. 30, 2024	Sep. 28, 2024	Mar. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash equivalents description						Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, while investments with longer maturities are classified as investments.
Cash, cash equivalents and investments			$ 331,000,000			$ 331,000,000		$ 396,000,000
Long-term debt			1,826,248,000			$ 1,826,248,000		2,305,513,000
Foreign currency exposure						The Company is a global company that operates in over 35 countries and, as a result, the Company’s net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and balance sheet amounts are significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Maturity period of foreign exchange contracts						The Company periodically aggregates its net worldwide balances by currency and then enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that mature within 90 days to hedge a portion of the remaining balance to minimize some of the Company’s currency price risk exposure. The foreign currency exchange contracts are not designated for hedge accounting treatment.
Treasury stock			141,000		$ 692,000	$ 13,475,000	$ 70,433,000
Derivative notional amount			150,000,000			150,000,000
Restructuring charges						2,000,000		8,000,000
Percentage reduction in the workforce		2.00%
Payment of severance costs				$ 8,000,000		13,000,000
Wyatt Technology [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 1,300,000,000						2,200,000,000
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Notional value, derivative asset			625,000,000			$ 625,000,000
Programs Authorized by Board of Directors [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Treasury stock shares acquired						0.2
Treasury stock						$ 58,000,000
Stock repurchase program remaining amount authorized for future purchases			1,000,000,000			1,000,000,000
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Treasury stock						13,000,000	$ 12,000,000
Held In Currencies Other Than Us Dollars [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and investments			234,000,000			234,000,000		233,000,000
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Long-term debt			1,300,000,000			1,300,000,000		1,300,000,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Fixed Interest Rate [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Long-term debt			1,300,000,000			1,300,000,000		1,300,000,000
Fair value of fixed interest rate debt			1,200,000,000			1,200,000,000		1,200,000,000
Held By Foreign Subsidiaries [Member]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and investments			$ 287,000,000			$ 287,000,000		$ 321,000,000

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Roll Forward (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 19,335	$ 14,311
Additions	4,109	3,727
Deductions and Other	(7,451)	(3,434)
Ending balance	$ 15,993	$ 14,604

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	$ 30,711	$ 28,995
Total	31,748	34,911
Total	26,529	16,565
Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	93	183
Foreign currency exchange contracts	60	207
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset		4,835
Foreign currency exchange contracts	22,764	13,384
Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange contracts	3,705	2,974
Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	944	898
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	944	898
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	30,711	28,995
Total	30,711	28,995
Total	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	1,037	5,916
Total	26,529	16,565
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	93	183
Foreign currency exchange contracts	60	207
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset		4,835
Foreign currency exchange contracts	22,764	13,384
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange contracts	3,705	2,974
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Total	$ 0	$ 0

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value of Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts (Detail) - USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	$ 93,000	$ 183,000
Fair value, derivative liability	60,000	207,000
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional , derivative asset	625,000,000
Fair value, derivative asset		4,835,000
Fair value, derivative liability	22,764,000	13,384,000
Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative liability	3,705,000	2,974,000
Other Current Assets [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional , derivative asset	16,000,000	24,155,000
Fair value, derivative asset	93,000	183,000
Other Current Liabilities [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional , derivative liability	23,918,000	16,000,000
Fair value, derivative liability	60,000	207,000
Other Assets [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional , derivative asset		220,000,000
Fair value, derivative asset		4,835,000
Other Liabilities [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional , derivative liability	625,000,000	405,000,000
Fair value, derivative liability	22,764,000	13,384,000
Other Liabilities [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notional , derivative liability	150,000,000	100,000,000
Fair value, derivative liability	3,705,000	2,974,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	(14,750,000)	(7,975,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	$ (3,705,000)	$ (2,974,000)

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Cost of Sales [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts	$ (138)	$ (755)	$ 914	$ (50)
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts	(26)	168	39	(123)
Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains	(164)	(587)	953	(173)
Interest Income [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest earned	2,486	2,720	7,613	8,048
Interest Income [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest earned	366	93	940	93
Other comprehensive income [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts	(28,339)	18,936	(6,775)	10,280
Other comprehensive income [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts	$ (3,391)	$ 510	$ (731)	$ 510

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Activity of Company's Accrued Warranty Liability (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 12,050	$ 11,949
Accruals for Warranties	3,812	4,813
Settlements Made	(5,371)	(5,642)
Balance at End of Period	$ 10,491	$ 11,120

Revenue Recognition - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances	$ 63	$ 67

Revenue Recognition - Summary of Activity of the Company's Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 323,516	$ 285,175
Recognition of revenue included in balance at beginning of the period	(242,302)	(222,001)
Revenue deferred during the period, net of revenue recognized	276,515	276,277
Balance at the end of the period	$ 357,729	$ 339,451

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Estimated Amount of Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized	$ 294,884	$ 256,675
Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized	357,729
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2023-12-31
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized	$ 294,884
Deferred revenue and customer advances recognition period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2024-12-31
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized	$ 38,785
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2024-12-31 \| Minimum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances recognition period	13 days
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2024-12-31 \| Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances recognition period	24 days
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2025-12-31
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized	$ 24,060
Deferred revenue and customer advances recognition period	25 days

Marketable Securities - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Time Deposits	$ 0.9	$ 0.9

Inventories - Inventory, Net of Reserves (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Inventory, Net, Items Net of Reserve Alternative [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 241,378	$ 233,952
Work in progress	23,555	20,198
Finished goods	254,061	262,086
Total inventories	$ 518,994	$ 516,236

Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Jul. 01, 2023	Jun. 29, 2024	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Goodwill	$ 1,306,593				$ 1,306,593		$ 1,305,446
Intangible assets, gross foreign currency translation adjustments					11,000
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization foreign currency translation adjustments					2,000
Amortization expense	28,000		$ 26,000	$ 79,000		$ 56,000
Future amortization expense, year 1	107,000				107,000
Future amortization expense, year 2	107,000				107,000
Future amortization expense, year 3	107,000				107,000
Future amortization expense, year 4	107,000				107,000
Future amortization expense, year 5	107,000				107,000
Intangible assets other than goodwill capitalized during the period	$ 11,000	$ 10,000			$ 31,000	$ 455,000

Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Schedule of Intangible Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 1,453,616	$ 1,411,070
Accumulated Amortization	$ 861,733	$ 781,883
Weighted-Average Amortization Period	7 years	7 years
Trademarks [Member]
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 9,680	$ 9,680
Software Development [Member]
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	695,610	660,273
Accumulated Amortization	$ 531,662	$ 495,317
Weighted-Average Amortization Period	5 years	5 years
Purchased Intangibles [Member]
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 614,768	$ 614,357
Accumulated Amortization	$ 232,928	$ 197,154
Weighted-Average Amortization Period	10 years	10 years
Licensing Agreements [Member]
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 15,430	$ 14,798
Accumulated Amortization	$ 9,832	$ 8,429
Weighted-Average Amortization Period	7 years	7 years
Patents and Other Intangibles [Member]
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 118,128	$ 111,962
Accumulated Amortization	$ 87,311	$ 80,983
Weighted-Average Amortization Period	8 years	8 years

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Jul. 12, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 17, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt facility fee	The interest rates applicable under the Credit Facility are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the alternate base rate (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (1) the prime rate in effect on such day, (2) the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Rate on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% per annum and (3) the adjusted Term SOFR rate for a one-month interest period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day), plus 1% annum) or the applicable 1, 3 or 6 month adjusted Term SOFR or EURIBO rate for euro-denominated loans, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 and 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 and 112.5 basis points for Term SOFR or EURIBO rate loans. The facility fee on the Credit Facility ranges between 7.5 and 25 basis points per annum, based on the leverage ratio, of the amount of the revolving facility commitments and the outstanding term loan.
Long-term debt	$ 1,826,248		$ 2,305,513
Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity	$ 13,000		114,000
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate terms on debt	The interest rates applicable under the Credit Facility are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the alternate base rate (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (1) the prime rate in effect on such day, (2) the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Rate on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% per annum and (3) the adjusted Term SOFR rate for a one-month interest period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day), plus 1% annum) or the applicable 1, 3 or 6 month adjusted Term SOFR or EURIBO rate for euro-denominated loans, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 and 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 and 112.5 basis points for Term SOFR or EURIBO rate loans. The facility fee on the Credit Facility ranges between 7.5 and 25 basis points per annum, based on the leverage ratio, of the amount of the revolving facility commitments and the outstanding term loan.
Unused borrowing capacity	$ 1,400,000		900,000
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt covenant description	These senior unsecured notes require that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. In addition, these senior unsecured notes include customary negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default.
Long-term debt	$ 1,300,000		$ 1,300,000
Debt instrument percentage of the amount to be prepaid	10.00%
Debt instrument interest coverage ratio	3.50%
Debt instrument leverage ratio	3.50%
Credit Agreements and Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate	4.14%		4.69%
Revolving Facilities [Member] \| Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face value of debt				$ 2,000,000
2021 Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt gross	$ 600,000		$ 1,100,000
Debt Instrument, Term	5 years
Shelf Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face value of debt		$ 200,000

Debt - Summary of Outstanding Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable and debt, current	$ 0	$ 50,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(3,752)	(4,487)
Total long-term debt	1,826,248	2,305,513
Total debt	1,826,248	2,355,513
Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	570,000	1,050,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series G [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable and debt, current	0	50,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series K [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable and debt, current	160,000	160,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series L [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable and debt, current	200,000	200,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series M [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable and debt, current	300,000	300,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series N [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	100,000	100,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series O [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	400,000	400,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series P [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	50,000	50,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Series Q [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 50,000	$ 50,000

Debt - Summary of Outstanding Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)	Sep. 28, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Senior Unsecured Notes Series G [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.92%	3.92%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series K [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.44%	3.44%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series L [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.31%	3.31%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series M [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.53%	3.53%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series N [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	1.68%	1.68%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series O [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	2.25%	2.25%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series P [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	4.91%	4.91%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series Q [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	4.91%	4.91%

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax holiday amount			$ 9	$ 11
Income tax holiday per share benefit			$ 0.15	$ 0.18
Effective income tax rate	16.60%	12.20%	15.00%	14.60%
Gross unrecognized tax benefit would impact the Company's effective tax rate	$ 15	$ 32	$ 15	$ 32
United States [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutory tax rate			21.00%
Ireland [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutory tax rate			12.50%
U.K [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutory tax rate			25.00%
Singapore [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutory tax rate			17.00%
Singapore [Member] \| April Two Thousand And Twenty One To March Two Thousand And Twenty Six [Member] \| New Contractual Arrangement [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutory tax rate			5.00%

Litigation - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Litigation - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Sep. 28, 2024 USD ($)
Obligation with Joint and Several Liability Arrangement [Line Items]
Litigation provision during the year	$ 10
Settled Litigation [Member]
Obligation with Joint and Several Liability Arrangement [Line Items]
Litigation provision during the year	$ 12

Other Commitments and Contingencies Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Future Minimum License Fees Payable	Future minimum license fees payable under existing license agreements as of September 28, 2024 are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2024 and thereafter.

Earnings Per Share - Earnings Per Share Reconciliation (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income per basic common share, Net Income (Numerator)	$ 161,503	$ 134,552	$ 406,436	$ 426,029
Net income per diluted common share, Net Income (Numerator)	$ 161,503	$ 134,552	$ 406,436	$ 426,029
Net income per basic common share, Weighted-Average Shares (Denominator)	59,367	59,093	59,314	59,061
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities, Weighted-Average Shares (Denominator)	137	162	157	201
Net income per diluted common share, Weighted-Average Shares (Denominator)	59,504	59,255	59,471	59,262
Net income per basic common share, Per Share Amount	$ 2.72	$ 2.28	$ 6.85	$ 7.21
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities, Per Share Amount	(0.01)	(0.01)	(0.02)	(0.02)
Net income per diluted common share, Per Share Amount	$ 2.71	$ 2.27	$ 6.83	$ 7.19

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	130	355	130	264

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 1,411,967	$ 771,229	$ 1,150,341	$ 504,488
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	15,917	(17,497)	1,835	(4,725)
Ending balance	1,603,099	905,522	1,603,099	905,522
Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance			(128,359)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			2,453
Ending balance	(125,906)		(125,906)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Retirement Plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance			(3,501)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(63)
Ending balance	(3,564)		(3,564)
Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance			(2,260)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(555)
Ending balance	(2,815)		(2,815)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	(148,202)	(128,800)	(134,120)	(141,572)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			1,835
Ending balance	$ (132,285)	$ (146,297)	$ (132,285)	$ (146,297)

Business Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024 Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	2
Number of reportable segments	1

Business Segment Information - Summary of Net Sales for Company's Products and Services (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 740,305	$ 711,692	$ 2,085,673	$ 2,136,942
Waters Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	265,273	262,142	691,760	786,293
Chemistry Consumables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	138,935	128,650	414,227	398,084
TA Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	57,803	57,289	167,319	178,087
Product [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	462,011	448,081	1,273,306	1,362,464
Waters Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	251,444	238,556	734,125	700,281
TA Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	26,850	25,055	78,242	74,197
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 278,294	$ 263,611	$ 812,367	$ 774,478

Business Segment Information - Summary of Geographic Sales Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 740,305	$ 711,692	$ 2,085,673	$ 2,136,942
China [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	100,049	102,081	285,899	333,127
Japan [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	43,096	40,069	111,995	123,943
Asia Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	108,184	96,078	298,425	288,862
Total Asia [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	251,329	238,228	696,319	745,932
United States [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	236,182	231,773	670,952	673,033
Americas Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	42,954	43,706	123,823	131,794
Total Americas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	279,136	275,479	794,775	804,827
Europe [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 209,840	$ 197,985	$ 594,579	$ 586,183

Business Segment Information - Summary of Net Sales by Customer Class (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 740,305	$ 711,692	$ 2,085,673	$ 2,136,942
Pharmaceutical [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Total net sales	430,138	421,535	1,220,092	1,233,177
Industrial [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Total net sales	227,740	209,449	644,459	648,754
Academic and government [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 82,427	$ 80,708	$ 221,122	$ 255,011

Business Segment Information - Summary of Net Sales of Company Recognized at a Point in Time Versus Over Time (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 740,305	$ 711,692	$ 2,085,673	$ 2,136,942
Chemistry Consumables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	138,935	128,650	414,227	398,084
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	278,294	263,611	812,367	774,478
Net Sales Recognized at a Point in Time: [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	553,056	536,626	1,539,751	1,631,928
Net Sales Recognized at a Point in Time: [Member] \| Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	323,076	319,431	859,079	964,380
Net Sales Recognized at a Point in Time: [Member] \| Chemistry Consumables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	138,935	128,650	414,227	398,084
Net Sales Recognized at a Point in Time: [Member] \| Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	91,045	88,545	266,445	269,464
Net Sales Recognized Over Time: [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	740,305	711,692	2,085,673	2,136,942
Net Sales Recognized Over Time: [Member] \| Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 187,249	$ 175,066	$ 545,922	$ 505,014

Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description	no

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