Waters vs Thermo Fisher Scientific: Fair Value & Quality
Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Waters (WAT) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) compare, as of Aug 14, 2026.
As of Aug 14, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Thermo Fisher Scientific as the less overvalued of the two: Waters trades at $414 versus a fair value of $122 (-71%), while Thermo Fisher Scientific trades at $596 versus $308 (-48%).
Waters
WAT · USD · Health Care
-71%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$414
Fair Value$122
Quality61/100
Thermo Fisher Scientific
TMO · USD · Health Care
-48%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$596
Fair Value$308
Quality63/100
Head-to-head numbers
Green value = the better side for that row (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper).
WatersThermo Fisher Scientific
Valuation
52.2×P/E (TTM)29.5×
9.61×P/S (TTM)4.41×
14.14×P/B3.74×
32.6×EV/EBITDA20.0×
1.64×PEG1.74×
—Dividend yield0.3%
—Dividend per share$1.76
Profitability
12%Net margin15%
3%Operating margin18%
5%Return on equity14%
3%Return on assets5%
Growth
91%Revenue growth (YoY)6%
2.1%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)-0.3%
6.0%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)6.7%
Balance & size
0.55×Debt / equity0.67×
$36BMarket cap$199B
healthyGrowth qualityhealthy
Thermo Fisher Scientific leads: 4 to 9 metric wins.
Dash = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.
Quality in detail
The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.
Watersof which business quality 62 · market factors 71Thermo Fisher Scientificof which business quality 60 · market factors 68
ProfitabilityMargins and returns on capital today
71
43
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns improving?
33
31
CashflowEarnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
InvestmentDisciplined investing over empire-building
38
79
Low VolatilityCalm price path (market factor)
49
69
MomentumPrice trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
74
65
52W MomentumDistance to the 52-week high (market factor)
91
71
Net IssuanceBuybacks instead of dilution
82
97
What the models say
The median fair value (base case) per model family, each in the currency of its trading venue. Green = above the current price, red = below.
Waters
DCF Models$112
Earnings-Based$57.43
Dividend Discount$266
Multiples$128
Asset-Based$17.48
Growth DCF$86.15
Economic Profit$68.87
Growth Earnings$122
26 of 26 models see the stock below the current price.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
DCF Models$354
Earnings-Based$203
Multiples$308
Asset-Based$96.29
Growth DCF$288
Economic Profit$159
Growth Earnings$341
24 of 24 models see the stock below the current price.
Scenario ranges
From our cautious bear case to the optimistic bull case. The white tick is the current price: left of fair value means room to run.
Waters
Bear $85.37Fair Value $122Bull $159
$414 = current price (white tick)
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Bear $171Fair Value $308Bull $385
$596 = current price (white tick)
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Ranked within their sector
Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.
Waters · Health Care
Quality score61 · above median
Fair value upside-71% · bottom 25%
Thermo Fisher Scientific · Health Care
Quality score63 · Top 25%
Fair value upside-48% · below median
Bottom line
As of Aug 14, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Thermo Fisher Scientific as the less overvalued of the two: Waters trades at $414 versus a fair value of $122 (-71%), while Thermo Fisher Scientific trades at $596 versus $308 (-48%).
Thermo Fisher Scientific has the higher quality score (63/100).
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A model-based valuation snapshot from 21 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.
