10-Q

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 April 1, 2017

or

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

For the transition period from                      to                     .

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)

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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    ☒  Yes    ☐  No

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

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☐
Emerging growth company	☐

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 April 28, 2017: 80,037,534

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 April  1, 2017 and December 31, 2016		1
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016		2
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016		3
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016		4
	Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		5
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		21
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		29
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		29
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		30
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		30
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		30
Item 6.	Exhibits		31
	Signature		32

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(unaudited)

	April 1, 2017			December 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	584,444		$	505,631
Investments		2,382,019			2,307,401
Accounts receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns of $8,046 and $8,657 at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		461,755			489,340
Inventories		279,976			262,682
Other current assets		70,230			70,391
Total current assets		3,778,424			3,635,445
Property, plant and equipment, net		334,382			337,118
Intangible assets, net		211,049			207,055
Goodwill		353,796			352,080
Other assets		133,052			130,361
Total assets	$	4,810,703		$	4,662,059
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Notes payable and debt	$	225,285		$	125,297
Accounts payable		66,929			67,740
Accrued employee compensation		29,872			57,465
Deferred revenue and customer advances		201,979			148,837
Accrued income taxes		2,892			15,244
Accrued warranty		12,998			13,391
Other current liabilities		92,256			92,347
Total current liabilities		632,211			520,321
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt		1,642,099			1,701,966
Long-term portion of retirement benefits		72,565			72,568
Long-term income tax liabilities		9,782			10,458
Other long-term liabilities		59,232			54,797
Total long-term liabilities		1,783,678			1,839,789
Total liabilities		2,415,889			2,360,110
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5, 6 and 10)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016		—			—
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 400,000 shares authorized, 159,196 and 158,634 shares issued, 80,001 and 80,023 shares outstanding at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		1,592			1,586
Additional paid-in capital		1,653,973			1,607,241
Retained earnings		5,490,626			5,385,069
Treasury stock, at cost, 79,195 and 78,611 shares at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		(4,564,840	)		(4,475,667	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(186,537	)		(216,280	)
Total stockholders’ equity		2,394,814			2,301,949
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,810,703		$	4,662,059

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

1

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Revenues:
Product sales	$	324,296		$	307,857
Service sales		173,673			167,389
Total net sales		497,969			475,246
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of product sales		133,156			129,258
Cost of service sales		77,939			71,893
Selling and administrative expenses		130,524			129,351
Research and development expenses		30,752			29,438
Purchased intangibles amortization		1,729			2,644
Acquired in-process research and development		5,000			—
Total costs and operating expenses		379,100			362,584
Operating income		118,869			112,662
Interest expense		(12,725	)		(10,119	)
Interest income		7,343			4,087
Income from operations before income taxes		113,487			106,630
Provision for income taxes		7,930			12,578
Net income	$	105,557		$	94,052
Net income per basic common share	$	1.32		$	1.16
Weighted-average number of basic common shares		80,073			81,275
Net income per diluted common share	$	1.31		$	1.15
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		80,769			81,974

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

2

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Net income	$	105,557		$	94,052
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation		29,141			16,051
Unrealized gains on investments before income taxes		588			3,289
Income tax expense		(22	)		(93	)
Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax		566			3,196
Retirement liability adjustment before reclassifications		(456	)		(1,000	)
Amounts reclassified to selling and administrative expenses		836			810
Retirement liability adjustment before income taxes		380			(190	)
Income tax expense		(344	)		(278	)
Retirement liability adjustment, net of tax		36			(468	)
Other comprehensive income		29,743			18,779
Comprehensive income	$	135,300		$	112,831

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

3

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN THOUSANDS)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	105,557		$	94,052
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		8,655			15,841
Deferred income taxes		6,168			3,740
Depreciation		12,783			12,356
Amortization of intangibles		10,167			11,075
Excess tax benefit related to stock-based compensation plans		—			1,619
In-process research and development charge		5,000			—
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable		35,110			38,254
Increase in inventories		(10,473	)		(20,488	)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets		(4,057	)		1,037
Increase in other assets		(1,040	)		(3,421	)
Decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities		(50,072	)		(43,632	)
Increase in deferred revenue and customer advances		50,616			45,586
Increase in other liabilities		5,795			5,486
Net cash provided by operating activities		174,209			161,505
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(17,711	)		(24,652	)
Investment in unaffiliated company		(7,000	)		—
Purchases of investments		(823,335	)		(685,568	)
Maturities and sales of investments		750,997			512,397
Net cash used in investing activities		(97,049	)		(197,823	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuances		40,000			110,177
Payments on debt		(12	)		(60,000	)
Proceeds from stock plans		38,259			8,191
Purchases of treasury shares		(89,173	)		(95,489	)
Payments for derivative contracts		(1,438	)		(1,895	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(12,364	)		(39,016	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		14,017			4,056
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		78,813			(71,278	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		505,631			487,665
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	584,444		$	416,387

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

4

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Waters Corporation (the “Company”) is a specialty measurement company that has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for nearly 60 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 a common software platform. 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 instruments are used 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^® 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 software-based products that interface with the Company’s instruments, as well as other suppliers’ instruments, and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.

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 first fiscal quarters for 2017 and 2016 ended on April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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, 2016, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

For most of 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 period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets. The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of that particular country, 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.

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

5

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

accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, $2,929 million out of $2,966 million and $2,766 million out of $2,813 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries and may be subject to material tax effects on distribution to U.S. legal entities. In addition, $295 million out of $2,966 million and $261 million out of $2,813 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Other Investments

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company made a $7 million investment in a developer of analytical system solutions used to make measurements, predict stability and accelerate product discovery in the routine analytic, process monitoring and quality control release processes for life science and biopharmaceutical markets. This investment will be accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

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 April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at April 1, 2017 (in thousands):

	Total at April 1, 2017		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	522,012	$	—	$	522,012	$	—
Foreign government securities		3,981		—		3,981		—
Corporate debt securities		1,769,436		—		1,769,436		—
Time deposits		305,462		—		305,462		—
Equity securities		147		—		147		—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		32,894		32,894		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		183		—		183		—
Total	$	2,634,115	$	32,894	$	2,601,221	$	—
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	$	3,010	$	—	$	—	$	3,010
Foreign currency exchange contracts		985		—		985		—
Total	$	3,995	$	—	$	985	$	3,010

6

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

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

	Total at December 31, 2016		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	570,313	$	—	$	570,313	$	—
Foreign government securities		17,991		—		17,991		—
Corporate debt securities		1,643,838		—		1,643,838		—
Time deposits		199,906		—		199,906		—
Equity securities		147		—		147		—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		30,954		30,954		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts		60		—		60		—
Total	$	2,463,209	$	30,954	$	2,432,255	$	—
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	$	3,007	$	—	$	—	$	3,007
Foreign currency exchange contracts		730		—		730		—
Total	$	3,737	$	—	$	730	$	3,007

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 this plan are determined through market and observable sources from daily quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges.

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investment and Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The fair values of the Company’s cash equivalents, investments and foreign currency exchange contracts 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. After completing these validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by third-party pricing services as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. There were no transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy during the three months ended April 1, 2017.

Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

The fair value of the Company’s liability for contingent consideration relates to the July 2014 acquisition of Medimass Research, Development and Service Kft. and is determined using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which uses significant unobservable inputs, and has been classified as Level 3. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability are recorded in the results of operations. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability associated with future earnout payments is based on several factors, including the estimated future results and a discount rate that reflects both the likelihood of achieving the estimated future results and the Company’s creditworthiness. A change in any of these unobservable inputs can significantly change the fair value of the contingent consideration. Although there is no contractual limit, the fair value of future contingent consideration payments was estimated to be $3 million at both April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, based on the Company’s best estimate, as the earnout is based on future sales of certain products, some of which are currently in development, through 2034. There have been no changes in significant assumptions since December 31, 2016 and the change in fair value since then is primarily due to change in time value of money.

7

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

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and variable interest rate debt are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was $610 million at both April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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 $608 million and $603 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, 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.

The Company’s principal strategy in managing exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates is to 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.

The Company does not specifically enter into any derivatives that hedge foreign-currency-denominated 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. At April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company held foreign currency exchange contracts with notional amounts totaling $124 million and $120 million, respectively.

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Other current assets	$	183	$	60
Other current liabilities	$	985	$	730

The following is a summary of the activity included in cost of sales in the statements of operations related to the foreign currency exchange contracts (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Realized losses on closed contracts	$	(1,438	)	$	(1,895	)
Unrealized losses on open contracts		(132	)		(28	)
Cumulative net pre-tax losses	$	(1,570	)	$	(1,923	)

Stockholders’ Equity

In May 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $750 million of its outstanding common stock over a three-year period. During the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 0.5 million and 0.7 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $82 million and $89 million, respectively, under the May 2014 authorization. The Company has a total of $41 million authorized for future repurchases under the May 2014 plan. In addition, the Company repurchased $7 million and $6 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted

8

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

stock units during the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively. The Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases given current cash levels and debt borrowing capacity, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions to further grow the Company’s sales and profits.

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 three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Balance at Beginning of Period		Accruals for Warranties		Settlements Made			Balance at End of Period
Accrued warranty liability:
April 1, 2017	$	13,391	$	1,815	$	(2,208	)	$	12,998
April 2, 2016	$	13,349	$	1,681	$	(2,198	)	$	12,832

Restructuring and Other Charges

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company incurred $9 million of severance costs associated with the closure of a facility in Germany and costs associated with providing U.S. employees with an early retirement transition incentive. During the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company incurred $3 million of severance costs associated with an organizational restructuring. At April 1, 2017, the Company had $6 million of severance costs accrued in other current liabilities.

Acquired In-process Research and Development

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company incurred a $5 million charge for acquired in-process research and development related to a milestone payment for the licensing of certain intellectual property relating to mass spectrometry technologies yet to be commercialized and for which there was no future alternative use as of the acquisition date. This licensing arrangement is significantly related to new, biologically-focused applications, as well as other applications, and require the Company to make additional future payments of up to $7 million if certain milestones are achieved, as well as royalties on future net sales.

9

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

2 Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities within cash equivalents and investments included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
U.S. Treasury securities	$	522,628	$	96	$	(712	)	$	522,012
Foreign government securities		3,981		—		—			3,981
Corporate debt securities		1,770,252		916		(1,732	)		1,769,436
Time deposits		305,462		—		—			305,462
Equity securities		77		70		—			147
Total	$	2,602,400	$	1,082	$	(2,444	)	$	2,601,038
Amounts included in:
Cash equivalents	$	219,022	$	—	$	(3	)	$	219,019
Investments		2,383,378		1,082		(2,441	)		2,382,019
Total	$	2,602,400	$	1,082	$	(2,444	)	$	2,601,038

	December 31, 2016
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
U.S. Treasury securities	$	570,695	$	253	$	(635	)	$	570,313
Foreign government securities		17,999		—		(8	)		17,991
Corporate debt securities		1,645,468		496		(2,126	)		1,643,838
Time deposits		199,906		—		—			199,906
Equity securities		77		70		—			147
Total	$	2,434,145	$	819	$	(2,769	)	$	2,432,195
Amounts included in:
Cash equivalents	$	124,793	$	1	$	—		$	124,794
Investments		2,309,352		818		(2,769	)		2,307,401
Total	$	2,434,145	$	819	$	(2,769	)	$	2,432,195

The estimated fair value of marketable debt securities by maturity date is as follows (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Due in one year or less	$	1,456,067	$	1,388,537
Due after one year through three years		839,362		843,605
Total	$	2,295,429	$	2,232,142

3 Inventories

Inventories are classified as follows (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Raw materials	$	91,981	$	95,430
Work in progress		17,598		16,585
Finished goods		170,397		150,667
Total inventories	$	279,976	$	262,682

10

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

4 Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The carrying amount of goodwill was $354 million and $352 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the effect of foreign currency translation increased goodwill by $2 million.

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

	April 1, 2017						December 31, 2016
					Weighted-						Weighted-
	Gross				Average		Gross				Average
	Carrying		Accumulated		Amortization		Carrying		Accumulated		Amortization
	Amount		Amortization		Period		Amount		Amortization		Period
Capitalized software	$	372,247	$	235,359		5 years	$	355,973	$	223,572		5 years
Purchased intangibles		163,667		129,710		11 years		162,180		127,045		11 years
Trademarks and IPR&D		13,623		—		—		13,544		—		—
Licenses		5,218		4,017		6 years		4,632		3,851		6 years
Patents and other
intangibles		63,367		37,987		8 years		61,646		36,452		8 years
Total	$	618,122	$	407,073		7 years	$	597,975	$	390,920		7 years

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the effect of foreign currency translation increased the gross carrying value of intangible assets and accumulated amortization for intangible assets by $10 million and $6 million, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $10 million and $11 million for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $43 million per year for each of the next five years.

5 Debt

In June 2013, the Company entered into a credit agreement that provides for a $1.1 billion revolving facility and a $300 million term loan facility. In April 2015, Waters Corporation entered into an amendment to this agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement provides for an increase of the revolving commitments from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion and extends the maturity of the original credit agreement from June 25, 2018 until April 23, 2020. The Company plans to use future proceeds from the revolving facility for general corporate purposes.

The interest rates applicable to the Amended Credit Agreement are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the alternate base rate calculated daily (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 1/2% per annum, or (c) the adjusted LIBO rate on such day (or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) for a deposit in U.S. dollars with a maturity of one month plus 1% per annum) or the applicable 1, 2, 3 or 6 month adjusted LIBO rate, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 basis points to 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 basis points and 117.5 basis points for adjusted LIBO rate loans. The facility fee on the Amended Credit Agreement ranges between 7.5 basis points and 20 basis points. The Amended Credit Agreement 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 Amended Credit Agreement includes negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default that are customary for investment grade credit facilities.

At April 1, 2017, $125 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as short-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet due to the fact that the Company expects to repay this portion of the borrowing under the revolving line of credit within the next twelve months. The remaining $745 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, as this portion is not expected to be repaid within the next twelve months.

11

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

The Company had a total of $700 million of outstanding senior unsecured notes as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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, plus the applicable make-whole amount or prepayment premium for Series H and J senior unsecured notes. 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.

The Company had the following outstanding debt at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017			December 31, 2016
Foreign subsidiary lines of credit	$	285		$	297
Senior unsecured notes - Series D - 3.22%, due March 2018		100,000			—
Credit agreements		125,000			125,000
Total notes payable and debt		225,285			125,297
Senior unsecured notes - Series B - 5.00%, due February 2020		100,000			100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series D - 3.22%, due March 2018		—			100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series E - 3.97%, due March 2021		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series F - 3.40%, due June 2021		100,000			100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series G - 3.92%, due June 2024		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series H - floating rate*, due June 2024		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series I - 3.13%, due May 2023		50,000			50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series J - floating rate**, due May 2024		40,000			40,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K - 3.44%, due May 2026		160,000			160,000
Credit agreements		1,045,000			1,005,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(2,901	)		(3,034	)
Total long-term debt		1,642,099			1,701,966
Total debt	$	1,867,384		$	1,827,263

* Series H senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.25%.

** Series J senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.45%.

As of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had a total amount available to borrow under existing credit agreements of $428 million and $468 million, respectively, after outstanding letters of credit. The weighted-average interest rates applicable to the senior unsecured notes and credit agreement borrowings collectively were 2.68% and 2.55% at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As of April 1, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company and its foreign subsidiaries also had available short-term lines of credit totaling $81 million and $79 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, for the purpose of short-term borrowing and issuance of commercial guarantees. At April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted-average interest rates applicable to these short-term borrowings were 1.48% and 1.49%, respectively.

12

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

6 Income Taxes

The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the Company’s marginal effective tax rates were approximately 37.5%, 12.5%, 19.25% and 0%, respectively, as of April 1, 2017. The Company has a contractual tax rate of 0% on qualifying activities in Singapore through March 2021, based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones, which the Company expects to continue to meet. The current statutory tax rate in Singapore is 17%. For the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, the effect of applying the contractual tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income by $5 million and $4 million, respectively, and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.06 and $0.05, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter was 7.0% and 11.8% for 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2017 as compared to 2016 can be primarily attributed to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 6.3 percentage points in the first quarter of 2017. See Note 12 for further information regarding the adoption of this standard. In addition, the provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2016 included a quarter-specific tax benefit associated with modifications to certain stock-based compensation awards. The remaining differences between the effective tax rate in 2017 and 2016 can be primarily attributed to 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 reporting 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 classified interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	9,964		$	14,450
Net changes in uncertain tax benefits		(717	)		(790	)
Balance at the end of the period	$	9,247		$	13,660

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, 2012. However, carryforward tax attributes that were generated in years beginning on or before January 1, 2013 may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if the attributes are utilized. 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. As of April 1, 2017, the Company expects to record additional reductions in the measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits and related net interest and penalties of approximately $4 million within the next twelve months due to potential tax audit settlements and the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments. The Company does not expect to record any other material reductions in the measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

7 Stock-Based Compensation

The Company maintains various shareholder-approved, stock-based compensation plans which allow for the issuance of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other types of awards (e.g. restricted stock units and performance stock units). In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, see Note 12 for further information regarding the adoption of this standard.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs in accordance with the accounting standards for stock-based compensation, which require that all share-based payments to employees be recognized in the statements of

13

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

operations based on their grant date fair values. The Company recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards that ultimately are expected to vest; therefore, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The new stock-based compensation accounting guidance offers the option of recognizing forfeitures as they occur or estimating forfeitures at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company has elected to remain consistent with prior periods and estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and, if necessary, revise in subsequent periods in which actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and the Company’s results of operations could be materially impacted. In addition, if the Company employs different assumptions in the application of these standards, the compensation expense that the Company records in the future periods may differ significantly from what the Company has recorded in the current period.

The consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 include the following stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance stock unit awards and the employee stock purchase plan (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Cost of sales	$	738	$	671
Selling and administrative expenses		7,188		13,969
Research and development expenses		729		1,201
Total stock-based compensation	$	8,655	$	15,841

During the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company recognized $7 million of stock-based compensation expense related to the modification of certain stock awards upon the retirement of senior executives.

Stock Options

In determining the fair value of the stock options, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected stock option lives. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on historical experience for the population of non-qualified stock option exercises. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Black-Scholes model. The relevant data used to determine the value of the stock options granted during the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 are as follows:

Options Issued and Significant Assumptions Used to Estimate Option Fair Values	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Options issued in thousands		207			86
Risk-free interest rate		2.2	%		1.5	%
Expected life in years		6			5
Expected volatility		0.232			0.286
Expected dividends		—			—
Weighted-Average Exercise Price and Fair Value of Options on the Date of Grant	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Exercise price	$	149.74		$	122.65
Fair value	$	40.39		$	34.63

14

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

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the plans for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except per share data):

	Number of Shares			Price per Share		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2016		2,697		$	38.09 to $139.51	$	106.55
Granted		207		$	136.43 to $154.33	$	149.74
Exercised		(415	)	$	41.20 to $128.93	$	89.05
Canceled		(43	)	$	87.06 to $136.43	$	113.05
Outstanding at April 1, 2017		2,446		$	38.09 to $154.33	$	113.06

Restricted Stock

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company granted seven thousand shares of restricted stock. The weighted-average fair value per share of these awards on the grant date was $136.43 per share.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock unit award activity for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

	Shares			Weighted-Average Price
Unvested at December 31, 2016		453		$	110.34
Granted		105		$	154.08
Vested		(131	)	$	105.13
Forfeited		(11	)	$	111.50
Unvested at April 1, 2017		416		$	122.99

Restricted stock units are generally granted annually in February and vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period.

Performance Stock Units

During three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company issued performance stock units, which are equity compensation awards with a market vesting condition based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) relative to the TSR of the components of the S&P Health Care Index. TSR is the change in value of a stock price over time, including the reinvestment of dividends. The vesting schedule ranges from 0% to 200% of the target shares awarded.

In determining the fair value of the performance stock units, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected terms. The fair value of each performance stock unit grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on the performance period of the underlying performance stock units. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Monte Carlo simulation model. The correlation coefficient

15

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

is used to model the way in which each company in the S&P Health Care Index tends to move in relation to each other during the performance period. The relevant data used to determine the value of the performance stock units granted during 2017 is as follows:

Performance Stock Units Issued and Significant Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Values	2017
Performance stock units issued in thousands		20
Risk-free interest rate		1.5	%
Expected life in years		3
Expected volatility		0.232
Average volatility of peer companies		0.261
Correlation coefficient		0.385
Expected dividends		—

The following table summarizes the unvested performance stock unit award activity for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

	Shares		Weighted-Average Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2016		27	$	171.16
Granted		20	$	198.78
Unvested at April 1, 2017		47	$	184.40

8 Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

	Three Months Ended April 1, 2017
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	105,557		80,073	$	1.32
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities		—		696		(0.01	)
Net income per diluted common share	$	105,557		80,769	$	1.31
	Three Months Ended April 2, 2016
	Net Income (Numerator)		Weighted- Average Shares (Denominator)		Per Share Amount
Net income per basic common share	$	94,052		81,275	$	1.16
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit securities		—		699		(0.01	)
Net income per diluted common share	$	94,052		81,974	$	1.15

For the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, the Company had 1.1 million and 1.2 million stock options that were antidilutive, respectively, due to having higher exercise prices than the Company’s average stock price during the period. These securities were not included in the computation of diluted EPS. The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.

16

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

9 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

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

	Currency Translation			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Retirement Plans			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	(170,566	)	$	(43,894	)	$	(1,820	)	$	(216,280	)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		29,141			36			566			29,743
Balance at April 1, 2017	$	(141,425	)	$	(43,858	)	$	(1,254	)	$	(186,537	)

10 Retirement Plans

The Company sponsors various retirement plans. The summary of the components of net periodic pension costs for the plans for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017									April 2, 2016
	U.S. Pension Plans			U.S. Retiree Healthcare Plan			Non-U.S. Pension Plans			U.S. Pension Plans			U.S. Retiree Healthcare Plan			Non-U.S. Pension Plans
Service cost	$	101		$	103		$	1,251		$	94		$	116		$	1,218
Interest cost		1,719			150			358			1,745			135			421
Expected return on plan assets		(2,663	)		(147	)		(402	)		(2,417	)		(130	)		(399	)
Net amortization:
Prior service credit		—			—			(46	)		—			—			(45	)
Net actuarial loss		651			—			231			667			—			188
Net periodic pension (benefit) cost	$	(192	)	$	106		$	1,392		$	89		$	121		$	1,383

During fiscal year 2017, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $6 million to $11 million to the Company’s defined benefit plans.

11 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, distributing and servicing LC and MS instruments, columns and other chemistry consumables that can be integrated and used along with other analytical instruments. The TA operating segment is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, distributing 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. Please refer to the consolidated financial statements for financial information regarding the one reportable segment of the Company.

17

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

Net sales for the Company’s products and services are as follows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Product net sales:
Waters instrument systems	$	197,789	$	188,529
Chemistry		87,903		84,150
TA instrument systems		38,604		35,178
Total product sales		324,296		307,857
Service net sales:
Waters service		157,734		151,514
TA service		15,939		15,875
Total service sales		173,673		167,389
Total net sales	$	497,969	$	475,246

12 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2015, accounting guidance was issued which clarifies the measurement of inventory. The new guidance requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, accounting guidance was issued which simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance is required to be adopted on a prospective basis for the statement of operations and the Company has elected to retrospectively apply the cash flow aspects of this new guidance. In addition, the Company has elected to continue to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and update forfeiture estimates throughout the requisite service period. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and recognized an excess tax benefit related to stock-based compensation in the first quarter of 2017, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and added $0.09 to net income per diluted share. These excess tax benefits were previously recorded in equity and there were no cumulative-effect adjustments to retained earnings as a result of the adoption of this standard. In addition, the Company reclassified $2 million of excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation for the first quarter of 2016 from cash flows from financing activities to cash flows from operating activities.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, amended accounting guidance was issued regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The objective of this guidance is to significantly enhance comparability and clarify principles of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. This guidance was originally effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; however, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the standard in August 2015 to delay the effective period date by one year to annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption prior to December 15, 2016 is not permitted. In March 2016, the FASB clarified the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and, in April 2016, clarification was made regarding certain aspects of identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, additional guidance was issued related to disclosure of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectibility, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes collected from customers. The Company does not intend to early adopt this accounting standard and will apply the modified-retrospective method. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

18

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

In January 2016, accounting guidance was issued which primarily affects the classification and measurement of certain financial instruments, principally equity investments and certain financial liabilities. Under the new guidance, there will no longer be an available-for-sale classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. Changes to the fair value of equity investments will be recognized through earnings. Equity investments carried at cost should be adjusted for changes in observable prices, as applicable, and qualitatively assessed for impairment annually. Changes to the fair value of financial liabilities under the fair value option due to instrument specific credit risk will be recognized separately in other comprehensive income. The new guidance also requires financial assets and financial liabilities to be presented separately and grouped by measurement category in the notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption of certain provisions of this guidance is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding the accounting for leases. This new comprehensive lease standard amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases. The core principle of the new guidance will require lessees to present the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on their balance sheets. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company expects that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s balance sheet classifications; however, it is not expected to have an overall material impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, accounting guidance was issued that modifies the recognition of credit losses related to financial assets, such as debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, and other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. Current guidance requires the recognition of a credit loss when it is considered probable that a loss event was incurred. The new guidance requires the measurement of expected credit losses to be based upon relevant information, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the asset. As such, expected credit losses may be recognized sooner under the new guidance due to the broader range of information that will be required to determine credit loss estimates. The new guidance also amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model used for debt securities classified as available-for-sale. When the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security is below its amortized cost, the new guidance requires the total unrealized loss to be bifurcated into its credit and non-credit components. Any expected credit losses or subsequent recoveries will be recognized in earnings and any changes not considered credit related will continue to be recognized within other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In August 2016, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the classification of certain cash flows. The new guidance addresses eight specific areas where current accounting guidance is either unclear or does not specifically address classification issues. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s cash flows.

In October 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new guidance eliminates the deferral of tax effects on intra-entity transfers other than inventory and requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences when the transfer occurs. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the definition of a business. The new guidance provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business, thus narrowing the definition and the amount of transactions accounted for as business combinations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early application is permitted under certain circumstances. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance eliminates step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued regarding the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The new guidance requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from other components of net benefit cost, with service cost reported in the same line items as other compensation costs and the other components of net benefit costs presented outside income from operations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amortization period for certain callable debt securities will be shortened to end at the earliest call date. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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

Business and Financial Overview

The Company has two operating segments: Waters^® and TA^®. Waters products and services primarily consist of high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC^®” and together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”), mass spectrometry (“MS”) and 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 governmental 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.

The Company’s operating results are as follows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands, except per share data):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016			% Change
Revenues:
Product sales	$	324,296		$	307,857			5	%
Service sales		173,673			167,389			4	%
Total net sales		497,969			475,246			5	%
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales		211,095			201,151			5	%
Selling and administrative expenses		130,524			129,351			1	%
Research and development expenses		30,752			29,438			4	%
Acquired in-process research and development		5,000			—			—
Purchased intangibles amortization		1,729			2,644			(35	%)
Operating income		118,869			112,662			6	%
Operating income as a % of sales		23.9	%		23.7	%
Interest expense, net		(5,382	)		(6,032	)		(11	%)
Income from operations before income taxes		113,487			106,630			6	%
Provision for income taxes		7,930			12,578			(37	%)
Net income	$	105,557		$	94,052			12	%
Net income per diluted common share	$	1.31		$	1.15			14	%

Sales in the first quarter of 2017 grew 5% as compared with the first quarter of 2016, with foreign currency translation reducing sales growth by 1%. This growth was driven by continued strength in our pharmaceutical and industrial markets, partially offset by a decline in sales to our governmental and academic customers. Recent acquisitions had a minimal impact on sales growth in the first quarter of 2017.

Instrument systems grew at 6% while recurring revenues (combined sales of chemistry consumables and services) grew at 4%. Recurring revenues were negatively impacted by two fewer calendar days in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2016. Foreign currency translation reduced instrument system and recurring revenue sales growth by 1% and 2%, respectively.

Geographically, sales growth was positive in all regions, except the U.S. and Japan. Sales in Asia excluding Japan grew at a double-digit rate with strong demand in China and India for our products and services. The decline in sales in the U.S. and Japan in the first quarter of 2017 was due to lower demand from pharmaceutical and industrial customers in these markets compared to the first quarter of 2016.

In the first quarter of 2017, sales to pharmaceutical customers increased 8% as compared to the first quarter of 2016. This increase was driven by the increasing need for global access to prescription drugs and the testing of newer and

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more complex biologic drugs. Combined sales to industrial customers (including sales to industrial chemical, nutritional safety and environmental customers) increased 5% for the quarter due to the increasing need for food quality and food safety testing and fine chemical applications. Combined global sales to governmental and academic customers decreased 9% for the quarter. Sales to governmental and academic customers declined in all regions except the Americas, where sales grew 29%. Sales to governmental and academic customers are highly dependent on when institutions receive the funding to purchase our instrument systems and, as such, sales growth rates can vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

Operating income was $119 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 6% as compared to the first quarter of 2016. This increase in the first quarter of 2017 was primarily a result of the positive effects achieved from the higher sales volume and favorable effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by the $9 million of severance costs associated with the closure of a facility in Germany and costs associated with providing U.S. employees with an early retirement transition incentive and the $5 million charge relating to a milestone payment for the licensing of certain intellectual property relating to mass spectrometry technologies yet to be commercialized. In addition, the change in operating income was also impacted by the $7 million expense incurred in the first quarter of 2016 related to the acceleration of certain stock awards.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted a new accounting standard that requires the excess tax benefit or deficiency on stock-based compensation to be included in the statement of operations as a component of the provision for income taxes; whereas previously it was recognized in equity. As a result, the Company recorded a tax benefit on stock-based compensation in the first quarter of 2017 that decreased income tax expense by $7 million and added $0.09 to net income per diluted share. Additionally, this standard required the Company to present the tax benefit in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as an operating activity, whereas in the past this tax benefit was reflected as a financing activity. All prior periods presented have been adjusted accordingly.

The Company generated $174 million and $162 million of net cash flows from operations in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in operating cash flow was primarily a result of the increase in sales and net income. Cash flows used in investing activities included capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization of $18 million and $25 million for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. In addition, the 2017 cash flow from investing activities included a $7 million payment for an investment in a developer of analytical system solutions used to make measurements, predict stability and accelerate product discovery in the routine analytic, process monitoring and quality control release processes for life science and biopharmaceutical markets.

Within cash flows used in financing activities, the Company received $38 million and $8 million of proceeds from stock plans in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company repurchased $82 million and $89 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, under authorized share repurchase programs. The Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases given current cash and investment levels and debt borrowing capacity, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions to further grow the Company’s sales and profits.

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Results of Operations

Sales by Geography

Geographic sales information is presented below for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016		% Change
Net Sales:
United States	$	139,234	$	148,954		(7	%)
Europe		128,213		125,032		3	%
Asia:
China		85,122		70,821		20	%
Japan		41,297		44,423		(7	%)
Asia Other		68,687		56,229		22	%
Total Asia		195,106		171,473		14	%
Other		35,416		29,787		19	%
Total net sales	$	497,969	$	475,246		5	%

In the first quarter of 2017, the decrease in sales in the U.S. and Japan was primarily a result of a decline in instrument system sales to pharmaceutical and industrial customers as compared to the first quarter of 2016. Europe’s sales growth for the quarter was driven by TA’s sales to industrial customers and was negatively impacted by the effect of foreign currency translation, which decreased sales growth by 6%. China achieved strong sales growth across all product classes, which was driven by sales to pharmaceutical and industrial customers. Sales to the rest of Asia experienced double-digit growth across all product and customer classes, with the exception of a decline in sales to governmental and academic customers, and were primarily driven by India. Sales to the rest of the world increased in all product and customer classes, with the exception of a decline in TA sales.

Waters Net Sales

Net sales for Waters products and services are as follows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		% of Total			April 2, 2016		% of Total			% Change
Waters instrument systems	$	197,789		45	%	$	188,529		44	%		5	%
Chemistry		87,903		19	%		84,150		20	%		4	%
Total Waters product sales		285,692		64	%		272,679		64	%		5	%
Waters service		157,734		36	%		151,514		36	%		4	%
Total Waters net sales	$	443,426		100	%	$	424,193		100	%		5	%

The increase in Waters instrument system sales (LC and MS technology-based) in the first quarter of 2017 was primarily attributable to higher sales of HPLC, UPLC, ACQUITY^® Arc^TM, QDa^® and Vion^® IMS Q-Tof^TM instrument systems, as well as other LC-MS systems that incorporate the Company’s benchtop tandem quadrupole technologies. Chemistry consumables sales increased on the uptake in ACQUITY columns, CORTECS^® columns and application-specific testing kits. Waters service sales benefited from increased sales of service plans and higher service demand billings to a higher installed base of customers. Foreign currency translation reduced both chemistry consumable and services sales growth by 2%. The overall effect of foreign currency translation reduced Waters product and service sales growth by 1% in the first quarter of 2017.

In the first quarter of 2017, Waters sales increased 15% in Asia and were primarily driven by China and India, as sales grew 21% and 19%, respectively, on strong demand for the Company’s products and services from pharmaceutical and industrial customers. Waters sales in the U.S. and Japan decreased 8% and 5%, respectively, and were due to lower demand from pharmaceutical and industrial customers in these markets compared to the first quarter of 2016. Waters sales in Europe were flat, as the effect of foreign currency translation decreased sales in Europe by 7%.

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TA Net Sales

Net sales for TA products and services are as follows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		% of Total			April 2, 2016		% of Total			% Change
TA instrument systems	$	38,604		71	%	$	35,178		69	%		10	%
TA service		15,939		29	%		15,875		31	%		—
Total TA net sales	$	54,543		100	%	$	51,053		100	%		7	%

The increase in TA instrument system sales in the first quarter of 2017 was primarily driven by thermal growth being fueled by continued acceptance of the recently introduced Discovery product line, while rheology saw strong performance across the entire range of products in the portfolio. Recent acquisitions increased TA sales by 3% and the effect of foreign currency translation had a minimal impact on TA sales in 2017.

Geographically, TA sales increased 2% in the U.S. and 29% in Europe, with the effects of foreign currency translation reducing European sales by 7%. TA’s total sales in Asia increased 3%, with sales growth of 10% in China offset by a 19% decline in Japan. TA sales to the rest of the world decreased 15% in the quarter.

Cost of Sales

The increase in cost of sales for the first quarter of 2017 as compared with the first quarter of 2016 was consistent with the increase in sales volume. In 2017, cost of sales included the benefit of a weaker British pound, which reduced the Company’s U.K. manufacturing costs when translated into U.S. dollars. The weakening of the British pound began with the announcement that the U.K. would be exiting the European Union.

Cost of sales are 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 that the impact of foreign currency translation may negatively impact gross profit during the rest of 2017, as the benefits from the weakening of the British pound are expected to be offset by the impact of the weakening of all other major currencies.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses increased 1% for the quarter. This nominal increase is attributable to the cost of headcount additions, higher merit compensation costs, and $9 million of severance-related costs in connection with the closure of a facility in Germany and costs associated with providing U.S. employees with an early retirement transition incentive, offset by the effect of foreign currency translation which reduced expenses by 3% and the $7 million expense related to the acceleration of certain stock awards in 2016.

As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses were 26.2% and 27.2% for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased 4% for the quarter, as an increase in additional headcount, merit compensation and costs associated with new products and the development of new technology initiatives were offset by the favorable effect of foreign currency translation on the Company’s research and development initiatives in the U.K., resulting from the weakening of the British pound against the U.S. dollar.

Acquired In-Process Research and Development

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company incurred a $5 million charge for acquired in-process research and development related to milestone payments associated with a licensing arrangement for certain intellectual property relating to mass spectrometry technologies yet to be commercialized and for which there was no future alternative use as of the acquisition date. The licensing arrangement is significantly related to new, biologically-focused applications, as well as other applications, and requires the Company to make additional future payments of up to $7 million if certain milestones are achieved, as well as royalties on future net sales. These future payments may be significant and may occur over multiple years.

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Interest Expense, Net

The decrease in net interest expense for the first quarter of 2017 was primarily attributable to higher income earned on increased cash, cash equivalents and investment balances.

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 Company’s marginal effective tax rates were approximately 37.5%, 12.5%, 19.25% and 0%, respectively, as of April 1, 2017. The Company has a contractual tax rate of 0% on qualifying activities in Singapore through March 2021, based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones, which the Company expects to continue to meet. The current statutory tax rate in Singapore is 17%. For the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, the effect of applying the contractual tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income by $5 million and $4 million, respectively, and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.06 and $0.05, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate is influenced by many significant factors, including, but not limited to, the wide range of income tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates; sales volumes and profit levels in each tax jurisdiction; changes in tax laws, tax rates and policies; the outcome of various ongoing tax audit examinations; and the impact of foreign currency transactions and translation. As a result of variability in these factors, the Company’s effective tax rates in the future may not be similar to the effective tax rates for the current or prior years.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter was 7.0% and 11.8% for 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2017 as compared to 2016 can be primarily attributed to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 6.3 percentage points in the first quarter of 2017. In addition, the provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2016 included a quarter-specific tax benefit associated with modifications to certain stock-based compensation awards. The remaining differences between the effective tax rate in 2017 and 2016 can be primarily attributed to differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017			April 2, 2016
Net income	$	105,557		$	94,052
Depreciation and amortization		22,950			23,431
Stock-based compensation		8,655			15,841
Deferred income taxes		6,168			3,740
Change in accounts receivable		35,110			38,254
Change in inventories		(10,473	)		(20,488	)
Change in accounts payable and other current liabilities		(50,072	)		(43,632	)
Change in deferred revenue and customer advances		50,616			45,586
Other changes		5,698			4,721
Net cash provided by operating activities		174,209			161,505
Net cash used in investing activities		(97,049	)		(197,823	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(12,364	)		(39,016	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		14,017			4,056
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	78,813		$	(71,278	)

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Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $174 million and $162 million in the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively. The changes within net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2016 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 change in accounts receivable was primarily attributable to timing of payments made by customers and timing of sales. Days sales outstanding was 84 days at both April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016.

• The change in inventory was primarily attributable to anticipated annual increases in sales volumes, as well as new product launches.

• The change in accounts payable and other current liabilities was a result of timing of payments to vendors, as well as the annual payment of management incentive compensation.

• Net cash provided from deferred revenue and customer advances results from annual increases in service contracts as a higher installed base of customers renew annual service contracts.

• 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. In addition, as a result of the adoption of a new accounting standard related to stock-based compensation, the Company reclassified $2 million of excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation for the first quarter of 2016 from cash flows from financing activities to cash flows from operating activities.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities in the quarter totaled $97 million and $198 million in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Additions to fixed assets and capitalized software were $18 million and $25 million in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, the Company purchased $823 million and $686 million of investments, respectively, while $751 million and $512 million of investments matured, respectively. Cash flow from investing activities in the first quarter of 2017 included a $7 million payment for an investment in a developer of analytical system solutions used to make measurements, predict stability and accelerate product discovery in the routine analytic, process monitoring and quality control release processes for life science and biopharmaceutical markets. There were no business acquisitions in the first quarter of 2016.

Cash Used in Financing Activities

During the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, the Company’s net debt borrowings increased by $40 million and $50 million, respectively. As of April 1, 2017, the Company had a total of $1,867 million in outstanding debt, which consisted of $700 million in outstanding senior unsecured notes, $300 million borrowed under a term loan facility under the Company’s credit agreement, $870 million borrowed under a revolving credit facility under the Company’s credit agreement and less than $1 million borrowed under various other short-term lines of credit, offset by $3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs. At April 1, 2017, $125 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as short-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet due to the fact that the Company expects to repay this portion of the borrowing under the revolving line of credit within the next twelve months. The remaining $745 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, as this portion is not expected to be repaid within the next twelve months. As of April 1, 2017, the Company had a total amount available to borrow under its credit agreement of $428 million after outstanding letters of credit. As of April 1, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

In May 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $750 million of its outstanding common stock over a three-year period. The Company repurchased 0.5 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock during both the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2016 at a cost of $82 million and $89 million, respectively, under the May 2014 authorization. As of April 1, 2017, the Company had a total of $41 million authorized for future repurchases under the May 2014 plan. In addition, the Company repurchased $7 million and $6 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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The Company received $38 million and $8 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the purchase of shares pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $2,966 million as of April 1, 2017. The majority of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments are generated from foreign operations, with $2,929 million held by foreign subsidiaries at April 1, 2017, of which $295 million were held in currencies other than U.S. dollars. Due to the fact that most of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments are held outside of the U.S., the Company must manage and maintain sufficient levels of cash flow in the U.S. to fund operations and capital expenditures, service debt interest, finance potential U.S. acquisitions and continue the authorized stock repurchase program in the U.S. These U.S. cash requirements are managed by the Company’s cash flow from U.S. operations and the use of the Company’s revolving credit facility.

Management believes, as of the date of this report, that its financial position, particularly in the U.S., along with expected future cash flows from earnings based on historical trends and the ability to raise funds from external sources and the borrowing capacity from existing, committed credit facilities, will be sufficient to service debt and fund working capital and capital spending requirements, authorized share repurchase amounts and potential acquisitions for at least the next twelve months. In addition, there have been no recent significant changes to the Company’s financial position, nor are there any anticipated changes, to warrant a material adjustment related to indefinitely reinvested foreign earnings.

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, 2016, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 24, 2017. The Company reviewed its contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of April 1, 2017 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 2017, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $6 million to $11 million to the Company’s defined benefit plans.

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

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has not created, and is not party to, any special-purpose or off-balance sheet entities for the purpose of raising capital, incurring debt or operating parts of its business that are not consolidated (to the extent of the Company’s ownership interest therein) into the consolidated financial statements. The Company has not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities whereby it has subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements that expose the Company to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company.

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.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates upon which its financial status depends were identified as those relating to revenue recognition, loss provisions on accounts receivable and inventory, valuation of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill, income taxes, uncertain tax positions, warranty, litigation, pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, stock-based compensation, business combinations and asset acquisitions and valuation of contingent consideration. The Company reviewed its policies and determined that those policies remain the Company’s most critical accounting policies for the three months ended April 1, 2017. The Company did not make any changes in those policies during the three months ended April 1, 2017.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Please refer to Note 12, Recent Accounting Standards Changes and Developments, in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the information incorporated by reference herein, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to future results and events, including any statements regarding, among other items, anticipated trends or growth in the Company’s business, including, but not limited to, the impact of foreign currency translation on financial results; development of products by acquired businesses; the growth rate of sales and research and development expenses; the impact of costs associated with developing new technologies and bringing these new technologies to market; the impact of new product launches and the associated costs, such as the amortization expense related to software platforms; geographic sales mix of business; development of products by acquired businesses and the amount of contingent payments to the sellers of an acquired business; anticipated expenses, including interest expense, capitalized software costs and effective tax rates; the impact and outcome of the Company’s various ongoing tax audit examinations; the achievement of contractual milestones to preserve foreign tax rates; the impact and outcome of litigation matters; the impact of the loss of intellectual property protection; the impact of new accounting standards and pronouncements; the adequacy of the Company’s supply chain and manufacturing capabilities and facilities; the impact of regulatory compliance; the Company’s expected cash flow, borrowing capacity, debt repayment and refinancing; the Company’s ability to fund working capital, capital expenditures, service debt, repay outstanding lines of credit, make authorized share repurchases, fund potential acquisitions and pay any adverse litigation or tax audit liabilities, particularly in the U.S.; future impairment charges; the Company’s contributions to defined benefit plans; the Company’s expectations regarding changes to its financial position; compliance with applicable environmental laws; and the impact of recent acquisitions on sales and earnings.

Many of these statements appear, in particular, under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 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 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 that could adversely affect translation of the Company’s future sales, financial operating results and the condition of its non-U.S. operations, especially when a currency weakens against the U.S. dollar.

• Current global economic, sovereign and political conditions and uncertainties, particularly regarding the effect of the U.K. voting to exit the European Union as well as the Chinese government’s ongoing tightening of restrictions on procurement by government-funded customers; the Company’s ability to access capital and maintain liquidity in volatile market conditions; changes in timing and demand by the Company’s customers and various market sectors, particularly if they should reduce capital expenditures or are unable to obtain funding, as in the cases of governmental, academic and research institutions; the effect of mergers and acquisitions on customer demand; and the Company’s ability to sustain and enhance service.

28

• Negative industry trends; changes in the competitive landscape as a result of changes in ownership, mergers and continued consolidation among the Company’s competitors; introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share; pressures on prices from customers or resulting from competition; regulatory, economic and competitive obstacles to new product introductions; lack of acceptance of new products; expansion of our business in developing markets; spending by certain end-markets; ability to obtain alternative sources for components and modules; and the possibility that future sales of new products related to acquisitions, which trigger contingent purchase payments, may exceed the Company’s expectations.

• Increased regulatory burdens as the Company’s business evolves, especially with respect to the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, among others, as well as regulatory, environmental and logistical obstacles affecting the distribution of the Company’s products, completion of purchase order documentation by our customers and ability of customers to obtain letters of credit or other financing alternatives.

• Risks associated with lawsuits, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights.

• The impact and costs incurred from changes in accounting principles and practices, such as the recently adopted accounting pronouncement regarding employee share-based payment accounting; the impact and costs of changes in statutory or contractual tax rates; shifts in taxable income among jurisdictions with different effective tax rates; and the outcome of and costs associated with ongoing and future tax audit examinations or changes in respective country legislation affecting the Company’s effective rates.

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, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017. 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 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 April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, $2,929 million out of $2,966 million and $2,766 million out of $2,813 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries and may be subject to material tax effects on distribution to U.S. legal entities. In addition, $295 million out of $2,966 million and $261 million out of $2,813 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

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 April 1, 2017 would decrease by approximately $30 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 three months ended April 1, 2017. 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, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017.

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer (principal executive and principal financial officers), 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

29

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 April 1, 2017 (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 Controls 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 April 1, 2017 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 three months ended April 1, 2017 as described in Item 3 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017.

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, 2016, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017. The Company reviewed its risk factors as of April 1, 2017 and determined that there were no material changes from the ones set forth in the Form 10-K. Note, however, the discussion 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 also may materially adversely affect 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

The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended April 1, 2017 of equity securities registered by the Company under the Exchange Act (in thousands, except per share data):

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)		Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)
January 1 to January 28, 2017		2	$	137.56		—	$	123,413
January 29 to February 25, 2017		265	$	149.25		240	$	87,663
February 26 to April 1, 2017		318	$	155.21		300	$	41,013
Total		585	$	152.44		540	$	41,013

(1) In addition to the stock repurchase program described below, the Company repurchased 45 thousand shares of its outstanding common stock in relation to the vesting of restricted stock units.

(2) In May 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $750 million of its outstanding common stock in open market transactions over a three-year period.

30

Item 6: Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description of Document
10.1	Form of Change in Control/Severance Agreement (1)
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 April 1, 2017, formatted in XBRL (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 (v) Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

(1) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K dated March 23, 2017 (File No. 001-14010).

* 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 of 1933, as amended, 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.

31

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements 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/ SHERRY L. BUCK

                     Sherry L. Buck

              Senior Vice President and

              Chief Financial Officer

Date: May 5, 2017

32

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Christopher J. O’Connell, 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;

4. 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:

a) 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;

b) 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;

c) 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

d) 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):

a) 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

b) 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: May 5, 2017	/s/ Christopher J. O’Connell
	Christopher J. O’Connell
	Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Sherry L. Buck, 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;

4. 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:

a) 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;

b) 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;

c) 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

d) 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):

a) 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

b) 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: May 5, 2017	/s/ Sherry L. Buck
	Sherry L. Buck
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

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 April 1, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Christopher J. O’Connell, 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: May 5, 2017

By: /s/ Christopher J. O’Connell

Christopher J. O’Connell

Chief Executive Officer

EX-32.2

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

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 April 1, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Sherry L. Buck, 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.

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: May 5, 2017

By: /s/ Sherry L. Buck

Sherry L. Buck

Chief Financial Officer

XML

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 28, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WATERS CORP /DE/
Entity Trading Symbol	WAT
Entity Central Index Key	0001000697
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Period End Date	Apr. 01, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 11,522,067,374
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		80,037,534

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 584,444	$ 505,631
Investments	2,382,019	2,307,401
Accounts receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns of $8,046 and $8,657 at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	461,755	489,340
Inventories	279,976	262,682
Other current assets	70,230	70,391
Total current assets	3,778,424	3,635,445
Property, plant and equipment, net	334,382	337,118
Intangible assets, net	211,049	207,055
Goodwill	353,796	352,080
Other assets	133,052	130,361
Total assets	4,810,703	4,662,059
Current liabilities:
Notes payable and debt	225,285	125,297
Accounts payable	66,929	67,740
Accrued employee compensation	29,872	57,465
Deferred revenue and customer advances	201,979	148,837
Accrued income taxes	2,892	15,244
Accrued warranty	12,998	13,391
Other current liabilities	92,256	92,347
Total current liabilities	632,211	520,321
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,642,099	1,701,966
Long-term portion of retirement benefits	72,565	72,568
Long-term income tax liabilities	9,782	10,458
Other long-term liabilities	59,232	54,797
Total long-term liabilities	1,783,678	1,839,789
Total liabilities	2,415,889	2,360,110
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5, 6 and 10)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 400,000 shares authorized, 159,196 and 158,634 shares issued, 80,001 and 80,023 shares outstanding at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,592	1,586
Additional paid-in capital	1,653,973	1,607,241
Retained earnings	5,490,626	5,385,069
Treasury stock, at cost, 79,195 and 78,611 shares at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(4,564,840)	(4,475,667)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(186,537)	(216,280)
Total stockholders' equity	2,394,814	2,301,949
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 4,810,703	$ 4,662,059

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value per share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value per share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	159,196,000	158,634,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	80,001,000	80,023,000
Treasury stock, shares	79,195,000	78,611,000

XML

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Product sales	$ 324,296	$ 307,857
Service sales	173,673	167,389
Total net sales	497,969	475,246
Cost of product sales	133,156	129,258
Cost of service sales	77,939	71,893
Selling and administrative expenses	130,524	129,351
Research and development expenses	30,752	29,438
Purchased intangibles amortization	1,729	2,644
Acquired in-process research and development	5,000
Total costs and operating expenses	379,100	362,584
Operating income	118,869	112,662
Interest expense	(12,725)	(10,119)
Interest income	7,343	4,087
Income from operations before income taxes	113,487	106,630
Provision for income taxes	7,930	12,578
Net income	$ 105,557	$ 94,052
Net income per basic common share	$ 1.32	$ 1.16
Weighted-average number of basic common shares	80,073	81,275
Net income per diluted common share	$ 1.31	$ 1.15
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents	80,769	81,974

XML

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 105,557	$ 94,052
Foreign currency translation	29,141	16,051
Unrealized gains on investments before income taxes	588	3,289
Income tax expense from unrealized gains on investments	(22)	(93)
Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax	566	3,196
Retirement liability adjustment before reclassifications	(456)	(1,000)
Retirement liability amounts reclassified to selling and administrative expenses	836	810
Retirement liability adjustment before income taxes	380	(190)
Income tax expense from retirement liability adjustment	(344)	(278)
Retirement liability adjustment, net of tax	36	(468)
Other comprehensive income	29,743	18,779
Comprehensive income	$ 135,300	$ 112,831

XML

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 105,557	$ 94,052
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense	8,655	15,841
Deferred income taxes	6,168	3,740
Depreciation	12,783	12,356
Amortization of intangibles	10,167	11,075
Excess tax benefit related to stock-based compensation plans		1,619
In-process research and development charge	5,000
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable	35,110	38,254
Increase in inventories	(10,473)	(20,488)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	(4,057)	1,037
Increase in other assets	(1,040)	(3,421)
Decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities	(50,072)	(43,632)
Increase in deferred revenue and customer advances	50,616	45,586
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	5,795	5,486
Net cash provided by operating activities	174,209	161,505
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization	(17,711)	(24,652)
Investment in unaffiliated company	(7,000)
Purchases of investments	(823,335)	(685,568)
Maturities and sales of investments	750,997	512,397
Net cash used in investing activities	(97,049)	(197,823)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuances	40,000	110,177
Payments on debt	(12)	(60,000)
Proceeds from stock plans	38,259	8,191
Purchases of treasury shares	(89,173)	(95,489)
Payments for derivative contracts	(1,438)	(1,895)
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,364)	(39,016)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	14,017	4,056
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	78,813	(71,278)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	505,631	487,665
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 584,444	$ 416,387

XML

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1  Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Waters Corporation (the “Company”) is a specialty measurement company thathas pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for nearly 60 years. The Company primarily designs, manufactures, sells and serviceshigh 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 a common software platform. 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 instruments are used 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® 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 software-based products that interface with the Company's instruments, as well as other suppliers' instruments, and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.

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 mayhave more or less than thirteen complete weeks. The Company's first fiscal quarters for 2017 and 2016 ended on April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America.The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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, 2016, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

For most of 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 period.Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets.The functional currency of each of the Company's foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of that particular country, 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.

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 April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, $2,929 million out of $2,966 million and $2,766 million out of $2,813 million, respectively, of the Company's total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries and may be subject to material tax effects on distribution to U.S. legal entities. In addition, $295 millionout of $2,966 million and $261 millionout of $2,813 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Other Investments

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company made a $7 million investment in a developer of analytical system solutions used to make measurements, predict stability and accelerate product discovery in the routine analytic, process monitoring and quality control release processes for life science and biopharmaceutical markets. This investment will be accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, certainof the Company's assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at April 1, 2017 (in thousands):

					Quoted Prices
					in Active		Significant
					Markets		Other		Significant
					for Identical		Observable		Unobservable
			Total at		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
			April 1, 2017		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities		$	522,012	$	-	$	522,012	$	-
	Foreign government securities			3,981		-		3,981		-
	Corporate debt securities			1,769,436		-		1,769,436		-
	Time deposits			305,462		-		305,462		-
	Equity securities			147		-		147		-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			32,894		32,894		-		-
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			183		-		183		-
		Total	$	2,634,115	$	32,894	$	2,601,221	$	-
Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration		$	3,010	$	-	$	-	$	3,010
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			985		-		985		-
		Total	$	3,995	$	-	$	985	$	3,010

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

					Quoted Prices
					in Active		Significant
					Markets		Other		Significant
			Total at		for Identical		Observable		Unobservable
			December 31,		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
			2016		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities		$	570,313	$	-	$	570,313	$	-
	Foreign government securities			17,991		-		17,991		-
	Corporate debt securities			1,643,838		-		1,643,838		-
	Time deposits			199,906		-		199,906		-
	Equity securities			147		-		147		-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			30,954		30,954		-		-
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			60		-		60		-
		Total	$	2,463,209	$	30,954	$	2,432,255	$	-
Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration		$	3,007	$	-	$	-	$	3,007
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			730		-		730		-
		Total	$	3,737	$	-	$	730	$	3,007

Fair Value of 401(k) Restoration Plan Assets

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

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investment and Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The fair values of the Company's cash equivalents, investments and foreign currency exchange contracts 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. After completing these validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by third-party pricing services as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. There were no transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy during the three months ended April 1, 2017.

Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

The fair value of the Company's liability for contingent consideration relates to the July 2014 acquisition of Medimass Research, Development and Service Kft. and is determined using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which uses significant unobservable inputs, and has been classified as Level 3. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability are recorded in the results of operations. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability associated with future earnout payments is based on several factors, including the estimated future results and a discount rate that reflects both the likelihood of achieving the estimated future results and the Company's creditworthiness. A change in any of these unobservable inputs can significantly change the fair value of the contingent consideration. Although there is no contractual limit, the fair value of future contingent consideration payments was estimated to be $3million at both April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, based on the Company's best estimate, as the earnout is based on future sales of certain products, some of which are currently in development, through 2034. There have been no changes in significant assumptions since December 31, 2016 and the change in fair value since then is primarily due to change in time value of money.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company's cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and variable interest rate debt are recorded at cost,which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company's fixed interest rate debt was $610millionat both April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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$608 million and $603 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, 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.

The Company's principal strategy in managing exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates is to 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.

The Company does not specifically enter into any derivatives that hedge foreign-currency-denominated 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 currencyand 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. At April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company held foreign currency exchange contracts with notional amounts totaling $124 million and $120 million, respectively.

The Company's foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Other current assets	$	183	$	60
Other current liabilities	$	985	$	730

The following is a summary of the activity included in cost of sales in the statements of operations related to the foreign currency exchange contracts (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Realized losses on closed contracts	$	(1,438)	$	(1,895)
Unrealized losses on open contracts		(132)		(28)
Cumulative net pre-tax losses	$	(1,570)	$	(1,923)

Stockholders' Equity

In May 2014, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $750 million of its outstanding common stock over a three-year period. During the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 0.5 million and 0.7 million shares of the Company's outstanding common stock at a cost of $82 million and $89 million, respectively, under the May 2014 authorization. The Company has a total of $41 million authorized for future repurchases under the May 2014 plan. In addition, the Company repurchased $7 million and $6 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively. The Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases given current cash levels and debt borrowing capacity, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions to further grow the Company's sales and profits.

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 three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Balance at						Balance at
	Beginning		Accruals for		Settlements		End of
	of Period		Warranties		Made		Period
Accrued warranty liability:
April 1, 2017	$	13,391	$	1,815	$	(2,208)	$	12,998
April 2, 2016	$	13,349	$	1,681	$	(2,198)	$	12,832

Restructuring and Other Charges

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company incurred $9 million of severance costs associated with the closure of a facility in Germany and costs associated with providing U.S. employees with an early retirement transition incentive. During the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company incurred $3 million of severance costs associated with an organizational restructuring. At April 1, 2017, the Company had $6 million of severance costs accrued in other current liabilities.

Acquired In-process Research and Development

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company incurred a $5 million charge for acquired in-process research and development related to a milestone payment for the licensing of certain intellectual property relating to mass spectrometry technologies yet to be commercialized and for which there was no future alternative use as of the acquisition date. This licensing arrangement is significantly related to new, biologically-focused applications, as well as other applications, and require the Company to make additional future payments of up to $7 million if certain milestones are achieved, as well as royalties on future net sales.

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Marketable Securities

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Marketable Securities [Abstract]

Marketable Securities

2 Marketable Securities

The Company's marketable securities within cash equivalents and investments included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
		Cost		Gain		Loss		Value
U.S. Treasury securities		$	522,628	$	96	$	(712)	$	522,012
Foreign government securities			3,981		-		-		3,981
Corporate debt securities			1,770,252		916		(1,732)		1,769,436
Time deposits			305,462		-		-		305,462
Equity securities			77		70		-		147
	Total	$	2,602,400	$	1,082	$	(2,444)	$	2,601,038
Amounts included in:
	Cash equivalents	$	219,022	$	-	$	(3)	$	219,019
	Investments		2,383,378		1,082		(2,441)		2,382,019
	Total	$	2,602,400	$	1,082	$	(2,444)	$	2,601,038

		December 31, 2016
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
		Cost		Gain		Loss		Value
U.S. Treasury securities		$	570,695	$	253	$	(635)	$	570,313
Foreign government securities			17,999		-		(8)		17,991
Corporate debt securities			1,645,468		496		(2,126)		1,643,838
Time deposits			199,906		-		-		199,906
Equity securities			77		70		-		147
	Total	$	2,434,145	$	819	$	(2,769)	$	2,432,195
Amounts included in:
	Cash equivalents	$	124,793	$	1	$	-	$	124,794
	Investments		2,309,352		818		(2,769)		2,307,401
	Total	$	2,434,145	$	819	$	(2,769)	$	2,432,195

The estimated fair value of marketable debt securities by maturity date is as follows (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Due in one year or less		$	1,456,067	$	1,388,537
Due after one year through three years			839,362		843,605
	Total	$	2,295,429	$	2,232,142

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Inventories

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Inventory Items, Net Of Reserves Alternative [Abstract]

Inventories Disclosure

3  Inventories

Inventories are classified as follows (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Raw materials		$	91,981	$	95,430
Work in progress			17,598		16,585
Finished goods			170,397		150,667
	Total inventories	$	279,976	$	262,682

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Goodwill and Other Intangibles

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Goodwill and Other Intangibles [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

4  Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The carrying amount of goodwill was $354 million and $352 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the effect of foreign currency translation increased goodwill by $2 million.

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

		April 1, 2017						December 31, 2016
						Weighted-						Weighted-
		Gross				Average		Gross				Average
		Carrying		Accumulated		Amortization		Carrying		Accumulated		Amortization
		Amount		Amortization		Period		Amount		Amortization		Period
Capitalized software		$	372,247	$	235,359	5	years	$	355,973	$	223,572	5	years
Purchased intangibles			163,667		129,710	11	years		162,180		127,045	11	years
Trademarks and IPR&D			13,623		-	-			13,544		-	-
Licenses			5,218		4,017	6	years		4,632		3,851	6	years
Patents and other
	intangibles		63,367		37,987	8	years		61,646		36,452	8	years
	Total	$	618,122	$	407,073	7	years	$	597,975	$	390,920	7	years

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the effect of foreign currency translation increased the gross carrying value of intangible assets and accumulated amortization for intangible assets by $10 million and $6 million, respectively.Amortization expense for intangible assets was $10 millionand $11 million forthe three months endedApril 1, 2017and April 2, 2016, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $43 million per year for each of the next five years.

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Debt

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Debt [Abstract]

Debt Disclosure

5  Debt

In June 2013, the Company entered into a credit agreement that provides for a $1.1 billion revolving facility and a $300 million term loan facility. In April 2015, Waters Corporation entered into an amendment to this agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement provides for an increase of the revolving commitments from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion and extends the maturity of the original credit agreement from June 25, 2018 until April 23, 2020. The Company plans to use future proceeds from the revolving facility for general corporate purposes.

The interest rates applicable to the Amended Credit Agreement are, at the Company's option, equal to either the alternate base rate calculated daily (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 1/2% per annum, or (c) the adjusted LIBO rate on such day (or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) for a deposit in U.S. dollars with a maturity of one month plus 1% per annum) or the applicable 1, 2, 3 or 6 month adjusted LIBO rate, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company's leverage ratio, which can range between 0 basis points to 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 basis points and 117.5 basis points for adjusted LIBO rate loans. The facility fee on the Amended Credit Agreement ranges between 7.5 basis points and 20 basis points. The Amended Credit Agreement 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 Amended Credit Agreement includes negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default that are customary for investment grade credit facilities.

At April 1, 2017, $125 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as short-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet due to the fact that the Company expects to repay this portion of the borrowing under the revolving line of credit within the next twelve months. The remaining $745 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, as this portion is not expected to be repaid within the next twelve months.

The Company had a total of $700 millionof outstanding senior unsecured notes as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016.Interest on thefixedrate 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, plus the applicable make-whole amount or prepayment premium for Series H and J senior unsecured notes. 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 3.50:1for 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.

The Company had the following outstanding debt at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Foreign subsidiary lines of credit		$	285	$	297
Senior unsecured notes - Series D - 3.22%, due March 2018			100,000		-
Credit agreements			125,000		125,000
	Total notes payable and debt		225,285		125,297
Senior unsecured notes - Series B - 5.00%, due February 2020			100,000		100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series D - 3.22%, due March 2018			-		100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series E - 3.97%, due March 2021			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series F - 3.40%, due June 2021			100,000		100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series G - 3.92%, due June 2024			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series H - floating rate*, due June 2024			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series I - 3.13%, due May 2023			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series J - floating rate**, due May 2024			40,000		40,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K - 3.44%, due May 2026			160,000		160,000
Credit agreements			1,045,000		1,005,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs			(2,901)		(3,034)
	Total long-term debt		1,642,099		1,701,966
Total debt		$	1,867,384	$	1,827,263
* Series H senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.25%.
** Series J senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.45%.

As of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had a total amount available to borrow under existing credit agreements of $428million and $468 million, respectively, after outstanding letters of credit. The weighted-average interest rates applicable to the senior unsecured notes and credit agreement borrowings collectively were 2.68% and 2.55% at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.As of April 1, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company and its foreign subsidiaries also had available short-term lines of credit totaling $81 million and$79million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, for the purpose of short-term borrowing and issuance of commercial guarantees. At April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted-average interest rates applicable to these short-term borrowings were 1.48%and 1.49%, respectively.

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Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

6  Income Taxes

The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the Company's marginal effective tax rates were approximately 37.5%, 12.5%, 19.25% and 0%, respectively, as of April 1, 2017. The Company has a contractual tax rate of 0% on qualifying activities in Singapore through March 2021, based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones, which the Company expects to continue to meet. The current statutory tax rate in Singapore is 17%. For the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, the effect of applying the contractual tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company's net income by $5 million and $4 million, respectively, and increased the Company's net income per diluted share by $0.06 and $0.05, respectively.

The Company's effective tax rate for the quarter was 7.0% and 11.8% for 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2017 as compared to 2016 can be primarily attributed to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and decreased the Company's effective tax rate by 6.3 percentage points in the first quarter of 2017. See Note 12 for further information regarding the adoption of this standard. In addition, the provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2016included a quarter-specific tax benefit associated with modifications to certain stock-based compensation awards. The remaining differences between the effective tax rate in 2017 and 2016 can be primarily attributed to 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 reporting 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 classified interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Balance at the beginning of the period		$	9,964	$	14,450
	Net changes in uncertain tax benefits		(717)		(790)
Balance at the end of the period		$	9,247	$	13,660

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, 2012. However, carryforwardtax attributes that were generated in years beginning on or before January 1, 2013 may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if the attributes are utilized. 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.As of April 1, 2017, the Company expects to record additional reductions in the measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits and related net interest and penalties of approximately $4 million within the next twelve months due to potential tax audit settlements and the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments. The Company does not expect to record any other material reductions in the measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

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Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

7  Stock-Based Compensation

The Company maintains various shareholder-approved, stock-based compensation plans which allow for the issuance of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other types of awards (e.g. restricted stock units and performance stock units). In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, see Note 12 for further information regarding the adoption of this standard.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs in accordance with the accounting standards for stock-based compensation, which require that all share-based payments to employees be recognized in the statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. The Company recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards that ultimately are expected to vest; therefore, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The new stock-based compensation accounting guidanceoffers the option of recognizing forfeitures as they occur or estimating forfeitures at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company has elected to remain consistent with prior periods and estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and, if necessary, revise in subsequent periods in which actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and the Company's results of operations could be materially impacted. In addition, if the Company employs different assumptions in the application of these standards, the compensation expense that the Company records in the future periods may differ significantly from what the Company has recorded in the current period.

The consolidated statements of operations for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 include the following stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards,performance stock unit awards and the employee stock purchase plan (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Cost of sales		$	738	$	671
Selling and administrative expenses			7,188		13,969
Research and development expenses			729		1,201
	Total stock-based compensation	$	8,655	$	15,841

During the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company recognized $7 million of stock-based compensation expense related to the modification of certain stock awards upon the retirement of senior executives.

Stock Options

In determining the fair value of the stock options, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected stock option lives. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on historical experience for the population of non-qualified stock option exercises. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Black-Scholes model.The relevant data used to determine the value of the stock options granted during the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 are as follows:

Options Issued and Significant Assumptions Used to Estimate Option Fair Values	April 1, 2017	April 2, 2016
Options issued in thousands	207	86
Risk-free interest rate	2.2%	1.5%
Expected life in years	6	5
Expected volatility	0.232	0.286
Expected dividends	-	-

Weighted-Average Exercise Price and Fair Value of Options on the Date of Grant	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Exercise price	$	149.74	$	122.65
Fair value	$	40.39	$	34.63

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the plans for the three months endedApril 1, 2017(in thousands, except per share data):

		Number of Shares	Price per Share					Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2016		2,697	$	38.09	to	$	139.51	$	106.55
	Granted	207	$	136.43	to	$	154.33	$	149.74
	Exercised	(415)	$	41.20	to	$	128.93	$	89.05
	Canceled	(43)	$	87.06	to	$	136.43	$	113.05
Outstanding at April 1, 2017		2,446	$	38.09	to	$	154.33	$	113.06

Restricted Stock

During the three months endedApril 1, 2017, the Company granted seven thousand shares of restricted stock. The weighted-average fair value per share of these awards on the grant date was $136.43 per share.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock unit award activity for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

		Shares	Weighted-Average Price
Unvested at December 31, 2016		453	$	110.34
	Granted	105	$	154.08
	Vested	(131)	$	105.13
	Forfeited	(11)	$	111.50
Unvested at April 1, 2017		416	$	122.99

Restricted stock units are generally granted annually in February and vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period.

Performance Stock Units

During three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company issued performance stock units, which are equity compensation awards with a market vesting condition based on the Company's Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) relative to the TSR of the components of the S&P Health Care Index. TSR is the change in value of a stock price over time, including the reinvestment of dividends. The vesting schedule ranges from 0% to 200% of the target shares awarded.

In determining the fair value of the performance stock units, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected terms. The fair value of each performance stock unit grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on the performance period of the underlying performance stock units. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Monte Carlo simulation model. The correlation coefficient is used to model the way in which each company in the S&P Health Care Index tends to move in relation to each other during the performance period. The relevant data used to determine the value of the performance stock units granted during 2017 is as follows:

Performance Stock Units Issued and Significant Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Values	2017
Performance stock units issued in thousands	20
Risk-free interest rate	1.5%
Expected life in years	3
Expected volatility	0.232
Average volatility of peer companies	0.261
Correlation coefficient	0.385
Expected dividends	-

The following table summarizes the unvested performance stock unit award activity for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

		Shares	Weighted-Average Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2016		27	$	171.16
	Granted	20	$	198.78
Unvested at April 1, 2017		47	$	184.40

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Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

8  Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

		Three Months Ended April 1, 2017
		Net Income		Weighted-Average Shares	Per Share
		(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	105,557	80,073	$	1.32
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted
	stock, performance stock unit and
	restricted stock unit securities		-	696		(0.01)
Net income per diluted common share		$	105,557	80,769	$	1.31

		Three Months Ended April 2, 2016
		Net Income		Weighted-Average Shares	Per Share
		(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	94,052	81,275	$	1.16
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted
	stock and restricted stock unit securities		-	699		(0.01)
Net income per diluted common share		$	94,052	81,974	$	1.15

For the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, the Company had 1.1 million and 1.2 million stock optionsthat were antidilutive, respectively, due to having higher exercise prices than the Company's average stock price during the period. These securities were not included in the computation of diluted EPS. The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

9Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

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

		Currency Translation		Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Retirement Plans		Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at December 31, 2016		$	(170,566)	$	(43,894)	$	(1,820)	$	(216,280)
	Other comprehensive income, net of tax		29,141		36		566		29,743
Balance at April 1, 2017		$	(141,425)	$	(43,858)	$	(1,254)	$	(186,537)

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Retirement Plans

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Retirement Plans [Abstract]

Retirement Plans

10  Retirement Plans

The Company sponsors various retirement plans. The summary of the components of net periodic pension costs for the plans for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		April 1, 2017						April 2, 2016
		U.S.		U.S. Retiree		Non-U.S.		U.S.		U.S. Retiree		Non-U.S.
		Pension		Healthcare		Pension		Pension		Healthcare		Pension
		Plans		Plan		Plans		Plans		Plan		Plans
Service cost		$	101	$	103	$	1,251	$	94	$	116	$	1,218
Interest cost			1,719		150		358		1,745		135		421
Expected return on plan
	assets		(2,663)		(147)		(402)		(2,417)		(130)		(399)
Net amortization:
	Prior service credit		-		-		(46)		-		-		(45)
	Net actuarial loss		651		-		231		667		-		188
Net periodic pension
	(benefit) cost	$	(192)	$	106	$	1,392	$	89	$	121	$	1,383

During fiscal year 2017, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $6 million to $11 million to the Company's defined benefit plans.

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Business Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Business Segment Information [Abstract]

Business Segment Information

11  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, distributing and servicing LC and MS instruments, columns and other chemistry consumables that can be integrated and used along with other analytical instruments. The TA operating segment is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, distributing 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. Please refer to the consolidated financial statements for financial information regarding the one reportable segment of the Company.

Net sales for the Company's products and services are as follows for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended
			April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Product net sales:
	Waters instrument systems		$	197,789	$	188,529
	Chemistry			87,903		84,150
	TA instrument systems			38,604		35,178
		Total product sales		324,296		307,857
Service net sales:
	Waters service			157,734		151,514
	TA service			15,939		15,875
		Total service sales		173,673		167,389
Total net sales			$	497,969	$	475,246

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Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

12 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2015, accounting guidance was issued which clarifies the measurement of inventory. The new guidance requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and this standard did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, accounting guidance was issued which simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance is required to be adopted on a prospective basis for the statement of operations and the Company has elected to retrospectively apply the cash flow aspects of this new guidance. In addition, the Company has elected to continue to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and update forfeiture estimates throughout the requisite service period. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and recognized an excess tax benefit related to stock-based compensation in the first quarter of 2017, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and added $0.09 to net income per diluted share. These excess tax benefits were previously recorded in equity and there were no cumulative-effect adjustments to retained earnings as a result of the adoption of this standard. In addition, the Company reclassified $2 million of excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation for the first quarter of 2016 from cash flows from financing activities to cash flows from operating activities.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, amended accounting guidance was issued regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The objective of this guidance is to significantly enhance comparability and clarify principles of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. This guidance was originally effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; however, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the standard in August 2015 to delay the effective period date by one year to annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption prior to December 15, 2016 is not permitted. In March 2016, the FASB clarified the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and, in April 2016, clarification was made regarding certain aspects of identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, additional guidance was issued related to disclosure of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectibility, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes collected from customers. The Company does not intend to early adopt this accounting standard and will apply the modified-retrospective method. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2016, accounting guidance was issued which primarily affects the classification and measurement of certain financial instruments, principally equity investments and certain financial liabilities. Under the new guidance, there will no longer be an available-for-sale classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. Changes to the fair value of equity investments will be recognized through earnings. Equity investments carried at cost should be adjusted for changes in observable prices, as applicable, and qualitatively assessed for impairment annually. Changes to the fair value of financial liabilities under the fair value option due to instrument specific credit risk will be recognized separately in other comprehensive income. The new guidance also requires financial assets and financial liabilities to be presented separately and grouped by measurement category in the notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption of certain provisions of this guidance is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding the accounting for leases. This new comprehensive lease standard amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases. The core principle of the new guidance will require lessees to present the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on their balance sheets. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company expects that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's balance sheet classifications; however, it is not expected to have an overall material impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, accounting guidance was issued that modifies the recognition of credit losses related to financial assets, such as debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, and other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. Current guidance requires the recognition of a credit loss when it is considered probable that a loss event was incurred. The new guidance requires the measurement of expected credit losses to be based upon relevant information, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the asset. As such, expected credit losses may be recognized sooner under the new guidance due to the broader range of information that will be required to determine credit loss estimates. The new guidance also amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model used for debt securities classified as available-for-sale. When the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security is below its amortized cost, the new guidance requires the total unrealized loss to be bifurcated into its credit and non-credit components. Any expected credit losses or subsequent recoveries will be recognized in earnings and any changes not considered credit related will continue to be recognized within other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In August 2016, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the classification of certain cash flows. The new guidance addresses eight specific areas where current accounting guidance is either unclear or does not specifically address classification issues. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's cash flows.

In October 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new guidance eliminates the deferral of tax effects on intra-entity transfers other than inventory and requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences when the transfer occurs. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the definition of a business. The new guidance provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business, thus narrowing the definition and the amount of transactions accounted for as business combinations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early application is permitted under certain circumstances. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance eliminates step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued regarding the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The new guidance requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from other components of net benefit cost, with service cost reported in the same line items as other compensation costs and the other components of net benefit costs presented outside income from operations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amortization period for certain callable debt securities will be shortened to end at the earliest call date. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Operations

Waters Corporation (the “Company”) is a specialty measurement company thathas pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for nearly 60 years. The Company primarily designs, manufactures, sells and serviceshigh 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 a common software platform. 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 instruments are used 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® 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 software-based products that interface with the Company's instruments, as well as other suppliers' instruments, and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.

Fiscal Period

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 mayhave more or less than thirteen complete weeks. The Company's first fiscal quarters for 2017 and 2016 ended on April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively.

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America.

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, 2016, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

Translation of Foreign Currencies

For most of 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 period.Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets.The functional currency of each of the Company's foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of that particular country, 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.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments Policy

Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, while investments with longer maturities are classified as investments.

Fair Value Measurements Policy

Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, certainof the Company's assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company's cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and variable interest rate debt are recorded at cost,which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.

Derivatives Policy

The foreign currency exchange contracts are not designated for hedge accounting treatment.

Product Warranty Costs

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.

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Income Taxes (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Tax Policy

The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return reporting 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 classified interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.

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Stock-Based Compensation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation Policy

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs in accordance with the accounting standards for stock-based compensation, which require that all share-based payments to employees be recognized in the statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. The Company recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards that ultimately are expected to vest; therefore, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The new stock-based compensation accounting guidanceoffers the option of recognizing forfeitures as they occur or estimating forfeitures at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company has elected to remain consistent with prior periods and estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and, if necessary, revise in subsequent periods in which actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and the Company's results of operations could be materially impacted. In addition, if the Company employs different assumptions in the application of these standards, the compensation expense that the Company records in the future periods may differ significantly from what the Company has recorded in the current period.

Stock Options

In determining the fair value of the stock options, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected stock option lives. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on historical experience for the population of non-qualified stock option exercises. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Black-Scholes model.

Performance Stock Units

In determining the fair value of the performance stock units, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected terms. The fair value of each performance stock unit grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on the performance period of the underlying performance stock units. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Monte Carlo simulation model. The correlation coefficient is used to model the way in which each company in the S&P Health Care Index tends to move in relation to each other during the performance period.

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Earnings Per Share (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share Policy

The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.

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Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Develpments (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements

12 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2015, accounting guidance was issued which clarifies the measurement of inventory. The new guidance requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and this standard did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, accounting guidance was issued which simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance is required to be adopted on a prospective basis for the statement of operations and the Company has elected to retrospectively apply the cash flow aspects of this new guidance. In addition, the Company has elected to continue to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and update forfeiture estimates throughout the requisite service period. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and recognized an excess tax benefit related to stock-based compensation in the first quarter of 2017, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and added $0.09 to net income per diluted share. These excess tax benefits were previously recorded in equity and there were no cumulative-effect adjustments to retained earnings as a result of the adoption of this standard. In addition, the Company reclassified $2 million of excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation for the first quarter of 2016 from cash flows from financing activities to cash flows from operating activities.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, amended accounting guidance was issued regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The objective of this guidance is to significantly enhance comparability and clarify principles of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. This guidance was originally effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; however, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the standard in August 2015 to delay the effective period date by one year to annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption prior to December 15, 2016 is not permitted. In March 2016, the FASB clarified the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and, in April 2016, clarification was made regarding certain aspects of identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, additional guidance was issued related to disclosure of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectibility, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes collected from customers. The Company does not intend to early adopt this accounting standard and will apply the modified-retrospective method. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2016, accounting guidance was issued which primarily affects the classification and measurement of certain financial instruments, principally equity investments and certain financial liabilities. Under the new guidance, there will no longer be an available-for-sale classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. Changes to the fair value of equity investments will be recognized through earnings. Equity investments carried at cost should be adjusted for changes in observable prices, as applicable, and qualitatively assessed for impairment annually. Changes to the fair value of financial liabilities under the fair value option due to instrument specific credit risk will be recognized separately in other comprehensive income. The new guidance also requires financial assets and financial liabilities to be presented separately and grouped by measurement category in the notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption of certain provisions of this guidance is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding the accounting for leases. This new comprehensive lease standard amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases. The core principle of the new guidance will require lessees to present the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on their balance sheets. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company expects that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's balance sheet classifications; however, it is not expected to have an overall material impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, accounting guidance was issued that modifies the recognition of credit losses related to financial assets, such as debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, and other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. Current guidance requires the recognition of a credit loss when it is considered probable that a loss event was incurred. The new guidance requires the measurement of expected credit losses to be based upon relevant information, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the asset. As such, expected credit losses may be recognized sooner under the new guidance due to the broader range of information that will be required to determine credit loss estimates. The new guidance also amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model used for debt securities classified as available-for-sale. When the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security is below its amortized cost, the new guidance requires the total unrealized loss to be bifurcated into its credit and non-credit components. Any expected credit losses or subsequent recoveries will be recognized in earnings and any changes not considered credit related will continue to be recognized within other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In August 2016, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the classification of certain cash flows. The new guidance addresses eight specific areas where current accounting guidance is either unclear or does not specifically address classification issues. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's cash flows.

In October 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new guidance eliminates the deferral of tax effects on intra-entity transfers other than inventory and requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences when the transfer occurs. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the definition of a business. The new guidance provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business, thus narrowing the definition and the amount of transactions accounted for as business combinations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early application is permitted under certain circumstances. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance eliminates step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued regarding the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The new guidance requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from other components of net benefit cost, with service cost reported in the same line items as other compensation costs and the other components of net benefit costs presented outside income from operations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amortization period for certain callable debt securities will be shortened to end at the earliest call date. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value, Assets And Liabilities

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at April 1, 2017 (in thousands):

					Quoted Prices
					in Active		Significant
					Markets		Other		Significant
					for Identical		Observable		Unobservable
			Total at		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
			April 1, 2017		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities		$	522,012	$	-	$	522,012	$	-
	Foreign government securities			3,981		-		3,981		-
	Corporate debt securities			1,769,436		-		1,769,436		-
	Time deposits			305,462		-		305,462		-
	Equity securities			147		-		147		-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			32,894		32,894		-		-
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			183		-		183		-
		Total	$	2,634,115	$	32,894	$	2,601,221	$	-
Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration		$	3,010	$	-	$	-	$	3,010
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			985		-		985		-
		Total	$	3,995	$	-	$	985	$	3,010

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

					Quoted Prices
					in Active		Significant
					Markets		Other		Significant
			Total at		for Identical		Observable		Unobservable
			December 31,		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
			2016		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities		$	570,313	$	-	$	570,313	$	-
	Foreign government securities			17,991		-		17,991		-
	Corporate debt securities			1,643,838		-		1,643,838		-
	Time deposits			199,906		-		199,906		-
	Equity securities			147		-		147		-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			30,954		30,954		-		-
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			60		-		60		-
		Total	$	2,463,209	$	30,954	$	2,432,255	$	-
Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration		$	3,007	$	-	$	-	$	3,007
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			730		-		730		-
		Total	$	3,737	$	-	$	730	$	3,007

Summary of Derivative Instruments by Risk Exposure [Abstract]

Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts

The following is a summary of the activity included in cost of sales in the statements of operations related to the foreign currency exchange contracts (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Realized losses on closed contracts	$	(1,438)	$	(1,895)
Unrealized losses on open contracts		(132)		(28)
Cumulative net pre-tax losses	$	(1,570)	$	(1,923)

Fair Value of Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Company's foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

	April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Other current assets	$	183	$	60
Other current liabilities	$	985	$	730

Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract]

Warranty Accrual Roll Forward

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company's accrued warranty liability for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

	Balance at						Balance at
	Beginning		Accruals for		Settlements		End of
	of Period		Warranties		Made		Period
Accrued warranty liability:
April 1, 2017	$	13,391	$	1,815	$	(2,208)	$	12,998
April 2, 2016	$	13,349	$	1,681	$	(2,198)	$	12,832

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Marketable Securities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Marketable Securities [Abstract]

Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities Reconciliation

The Company's marketable securities within cash equivalents and investments included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
		Cost		Gain		Loss		Value
U.S. Treasury securities		$	522,628	$	96	$	(712)	$	522,012
Foreign government securities			3,981		-		-		3,981
Corporate debt securities			1,770,252		916		(1,732)		1,769,436
Time deposits			305,462		-		-		305,462
Equity securities			77		70		-		147
	Total	$	2,602,400	$	1,082	$	(2,444)	$	2,601,038
Amounts included in:
	Cash equivalents	$	219,022	$	-	$	(3)	$	219,019
	Investments		2,383,378		1,082		(2,441)		2,382,019
	Total	$	2,602,400	$	1,082	$	(2,444)	$	2,601,038

		December 31, 2016
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
		Cost		Gain		Loss		Value
U.S. Treasury securities		$	570,695	$	253	$	(635)	$	570,313
Foreign government securities			17,999		-		(8)		17,991
Corporate debt securities			1,645,468		496		(2,126)		1,643,838
Time deposits			199,906		-		-		199,906
Equity securities			77		70		-		147
	Total	$	2,434,145	$	819	$	(2,769)	$	2,432,195
Amounts included in:
	Cash equivalents	$	124,793	$	1	$	-	$	124,794
	Investments		2,309,352		818		(2,769)		2,307,401
	Total	$	2,434,145	$	819	$	(2,769)	$	2,432,195

Investments Classified By Contractual Maturity Date

The estimated fair value of marketable debt securities by maturity date is as follows (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Due in one year or less		$	1,456,067	$	1,388,537
Due after one year through three years			839,362		843,605
	Total	$	2,295,429	$	2,232,142

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Inventories (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Inventory Items, Net Of Reserves Alternative [Abstract]

Inventory, Net of Reserves

Inventories are classified as follows (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Raw materials		$	91,981	$	95,430
Work in progress			17,598		16,585
Finished goods			170,397		150,667
	Total inventories	$	279,976	$	262,682

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Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Goodwill and Other Intangibles [Abstract]

Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class

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

		April 1, 2017						December 31, 2016
						Weighted-						Weighted-
		Gross				Average		Gross				Average
		Carrying		Accumulated		Amortization		Carrying		Accumulated		Amortization
		Amount		Amortization		Period		Amount		Amortization		Period
Capitalized software		$	372,247	$	235,359	5	years	$	355,973	$	223,572	5	years
Purchased intangibles			163,667		129,710	11	years		162,180		127,045	11	years
Trademarks and IPR&D			13,623		-	-			13,544		-	-
Licenses			5,218		4,017	6	years		4,632		3,851	6	years
Patents and other
	intangibles		63,367		37,987	8	years		61,646		36,452	8	years
	Total	$	618,122	$	407,073	7	years	$	597,975	$	390,920	7	years

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Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Debt [Abstract]

Schedule of Outstanding Debt

The Company had the following outstanding debt at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		December 31, 2016
Foreign subsidiary lines of credit		$	285	$	297
Senior unsecured notes - Series D - 3.22%, due March 2018			100,000		-
Credit agreements			125,000		125,000
	Total notes payable and debt		225,285		125,297
Senior unsecured notes - Series B - 5.00%, due February 2020			100,000		100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series D - 3.22%, due March 2018			-		100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series E - 3.97%, due March 2021			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series F - 3.40%, due June 2021			100,000		100,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series G - 3.92%, due June 2024			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series H - floating rate*, due June 2024			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series I - 3.13%, due May 2023			50,000		50,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series J - floating rate**, due May 2024			40,000		40,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K - 3.44%, due May 2026			160,000		160,000
Credit agreements			1,045,000		1,005,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs			(2,901)		(3,034)
	Total long-term debt		1,642,099		1,701,966
Total debt		$	1,867,384	$	1,827,263
* Series H senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.25%.
** Series J senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.45%.

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Income Taxes (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

		April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Balance at the beginning of the period		$	9,964	$	14,450
	Net changes in uncertain tax benefits		(717)		(790)
Balance at the end of the period		$	9,247	$	13,660

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Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The consolidated statements of operations for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 include the following stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards,performance stock unit awards and the employee stock purchase plan (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Cost of sales		$	738	$	671
Selling and administrative expenses			7,188		13,969
Research and development expenses			729		1,201
	Total stock-based compensation	$	8,655	$	15,841

Relevant Data Used to Determine the Value of Stock Options Granted During the Period

The relevant data used to determine the value of the stock options granted during the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 are as follows:

Options Issued and Significant Assumptions Used to Estimate Option Fair Values	April 1, 2017	April 2, 2016
Options issued in thousands	207	86
Risk-free interest rate	2.2%	1.5%
Expected life in years	6	5
Expected volatility	0.232	0.286
Expected dividends	-	-

Weighted-Average Exercise Price and Fair Value of Options on the Date of Grant	April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Exercise price	$	149.74	$	122.65
Fair value	$	40.39	$	34.63

Stock Options Outstanding Roll Forward

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the plans for the three months endedApril 1, 2017(in thousands, except per share data):

		Number of Shares	Price per Share					Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2016		2,697	$	38.09	to	$	139.51	$	106.55
	Granted	207	$	136.43	to	$	154.33	$	149.74
	Exercised	(415)	$	41.20	to	$	128.93	$	89.05
	Canceled	(43)	$	87.06	to	$	136.43	$	113.05
Outstanding at April 1, 2017		2,446	$	38.09	to	$	154.33	$	113.06

Restricted Stock Units Unvested Roll Forward

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock unit award activity for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

		Shares	Weighted-Average Price
Unvested at December 31, 2016		453	$	110.34
	Granted	105	$	154.08
	Vested	(131)	$	105.13
	Forfeited	(11)	$	111.50
Unvested at April 1, 2017		416	$	122.99

Relevant Data Used to Determine the Value of Performance Shares

The relevant data used to determine the value of the performance stock units granted during 2017 is as follows:

Performance Stock Units Issued and Significant Assumptions Used to Estimate Fair Values	2017
Performance stock units issued in thousands	20
Risk-free interest rate	1.5%
Expected life in years	3
Expected volatility	0.232
Average volatility of peer companies	0.261
Correlation coefficient	0.385
Expected dividends	-

Performance Stock Units Unvested Roll Forward

The following table summarizes the unvested performance stock unit award activity for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

		Shares	Weighted-Average Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2016		27	$	171.16
	Granted	20	$	198.78
Unvested at April 1, 2017		47	$	184.40

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share Reconciliation

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

		Three Months Ended April 1, 2017
		Net Income		Weighted-Average Shares	Per Share
		(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	105,557	80,073	$	1.32
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted
	stock, performance stock unit and
	restricted stock unit securities		-	696		(0.01)
Net income per diluted common share		$	105,557	80,769	$	1.31

		Three Months Ended April 2, 2016
		Net Income		Weighted-Average Shares	Per Share
		(Numerator)		(Denominator)	Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	94,052	81,275	$	1.16
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted
	stock and restricted stock unit securities		-	699		(0.01)
Net income per diluted common share		$	94,052	81,974	$	1.15

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

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

		Currency Translation		Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Retirement Plans		Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at December 31, 2016		$	(170,566)	$	(43,894)	$	(1,820)	$	(216,280)
	Other comprehensive income, net of tax		29,141		36		566		29,743
Balance at April 1, 2017		$	(141,425)	$	(43,858)	$	(1,254)	$	(186,537)

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Retirement Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Retirement Plans [Abstract]

Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The summary of the components of net periodic pension costs for the plans for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		April 1, 2017						April 2, 2016
		U.S.		U.S. Retiree		Non-U.S.		U.S.		U.S. Retiree		Non-U.S.
		Pension		Healthcare		Pension		Pension		Healthcare		Pension
		Plans		Plan		Plans		Plans		Plan		Plans
Service cost		$	101	$	103	$	1,251	$	94	$	116	$	1,218
Interest cost			1,719		150		358		1,745		135		421
Expected return on plan
	assets		(2,663)		(147)		(402)		(2,417)		(130)		(399)
Net amortization:
	Prior service credit		-		-		(46)		-		-		(45)
	Net actuarial loss		651		-		231		667		-		188
Net periodic pension
	(benefit) cost	$	(192)	$	106	$	1,392	$	89	$	121	$	1,383

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Business Segment Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Business Segment Information [Abstract]

Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services

Net sales for the Company's products and services are as follows for the three months endedApril 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended
			April 1, 2017		April 2, 2016
Product net sales:
	Waters instrument systems		$	197,789	$	188,529
	Chemistry			87,903		84,150
	TA instrument systems			38,604		35,178
		Total product sales		324,296		307,857
Service net sales:
	Waters service			157,734		151,514
	TA service			15,939		15,875
		Total service sales		173,673		167,389
Total net sales			$	497,969	$	475,246

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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 31, 2014	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Long-term investments		$ 7,000,000
Acquired in-process research and development		5,000,000
Potential payments under licensing arrangements		$ 7,000,000
Cash Equivalents and Investments [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		$ 2,966,000,000		$ 2,813,000,000
Derivative [Line Items]
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. 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.
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.
Notional amount of foreign exchange contracts		$ 124,000,000		120,000,000
Realized losses on foreign exchange contracts		(1,438,000)	$ (1,895,000)
Unrealized losses on foreign exchange contracts		(132,000)	(28,000)
Cumulative net pre-tax losses on foreign exchange contracts		(1,570,000)	(1,923,000)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		2,601,038,000		2,432,195,000
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt		1,642,099,000		1,701,966,000
Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract]
Accrued warranty liability, balance at beginning of period		13,391,000	13,349,000
Accruals for warranties		1,815,000	1,681,000
Settlements made		(2,208,000)	(2,198,000)
Accrued warranty liability, balance at end of period		12,998,000	12,832,000
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring charges		9,000,000	$ 3,000,000
Restructuring reserve		6,000,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		32,894,000		30,954,000
Forward foreign exchange contract assets		183,000		60,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis		2,634,115,000		2,463,209,000
Contingent consideration		3,010,000		3,007,000
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities		985,000		730,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis		3,995,000		3,737,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		32,894,000		30,954,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis		32,894,000		30,954,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Forward foreign exchange contract assets		183,000		60,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis		2,601,221,000		2,432,255,000
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities		985,000		730,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis		985,000		730,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent consideration		3,010,000		3,007,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis		3,010,000		3,007,000
Held in currencies other than U.S. dollars [Member]
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and investments		$ 295,000,000		261,000,000
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Treasury stock shares acquired		0.5	0.7
Treasury stock		$ 82,000,000	$ 89,000,000
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Treasury stock		7,000,000	$ 6,000,000
May 2014 Program [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program authorization amount	$ 750,000,000
Stock repurchase program remaining amount authorized for future purchases		41,000,000
Stock repurchase program period	3 years
US Treasury Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		522,012,000		570,313,000
US Treasury Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		522,012,000		570,313,000
Foreign Government Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		3,981,000		17,991,000
Foreign Government Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		3,981,000		17,991,000
Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		1,769,436,000		1,643,838,000
Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		1,769,436,000		1,643,838,000
Time Deposits | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		305,462,000		199,906,000
Time Deposits | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		305,462,000		199,906,000
Equity Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		147,000		147,000
Equity Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		147,000		147,000
Unsecured debt
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt		700,000,000		700,000,000
Unsecured debt | Fixed interest rate [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt		610,000,000		610,000,000
Fair value of debt instrument		608,000,000		603,000,000
Held by foreign subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and investments		$ 2,929,000,000		$ 2,766,000,000

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Marketable Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 2,602,400	$ 2,434,145
Unrealized Gain	1,082	819
Unrealized Loss	(2,444)	(2,769)
Fair Value	2,601,038	2,432,195
Debt securities due in one year or less	1,456,067	1,388,537
Debt securities due after one year through three years	839,362	843,605
Total debt securities	2,295,429	2,232,142
Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	219,022	124,793
Unrealized Gain		1
Unrealized Loss	(3)
Fair Value	219,019	124,794
Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	2,383,378	2,309,352
Unrealized Gain	1,082	818
Unrealized Loss	(2,441)	(2,769)
Fair Value	2,382,019	2,307,401
US Treasury Securities
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	522,628	570,695
Unrealized Gain	96	253
Unrealized Loss	(712)	(635)
US Treasury Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	522,012	570,313
Foreign Government Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	3,981	17,999
Unrealized Loss		(8)
Foreign Government Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	3,981	17,991
Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,770,252	1,645,468
Unrealized Gain	916	496
Unrealized Loss	(1,732)	(2,126)
Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	1,769,436	1,643,838
Time Deposits
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	305,462	199,906
Time Deposits | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	305,462	199,906
Equity Securities
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	77	77
Unrealized Gain	70	70
Equity Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 147	$ 147

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Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Inventory Items, Net Of Reserves Alternative [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 91,981	$ 95,430
Work in progress	17,598	16,585
Finished goods	170,397	150,667
Total inventories	$ 279,976	$ 262,682

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Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 353,796		$ 352,080
Goodwill foreign currency translation adjustments	2,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	618,122		597,975
Finite-lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 407,073		$ 390,920
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life in years	7 years		7 years
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	$ 13,623		$ 13,544
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, gross foreign currency translation adjustments	10,000
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization foreign currency translation adjustments	6,000
Amortization expense	10,000	$ 11,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
Future amortization expense, year 1	43,000
Future amortization expense, year 2	43,000
Future amortization expense, year 3	43,000
Future amortization expense, year 4	43,000
Future amortization expense, year 5	43,000
Capitalized software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	372,247		355,973
Finite-lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 235,359		$ 223,572
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life in years	5 years		5 years
Purchased intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	$ 163,667		$ 162,180
Finite-lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 129,710		$ 127,045
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life in years	11 years		11 years
Licenses [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	$ 5,218		$ 4,632
Finite-lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 4,017		$ 3,851
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life in years	6 years		6 years
Patents and other intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	$ 63,367		$ 61,646
Finite-lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 37,987		$ 36,452
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life in years	8 years		8 years

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Debt (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2013
Debt [Line Items]
Notes payable and debt	$ 225,285,000	$ 125,297,000
Long-term debt	1,642,099,000	1,701,966,000
Total debt	1,867,384,000	1,827,263,000
Line of Credit [Line Items]
Foreign subsidiary lines of credit	285,000	297,000
Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity	$ 81,000,000	$ 79,000,000
Line of credit interest rate during the period	1.48%	1.49%
Long-Term Liabilities
Debt [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (2,901,000)	$ (3,034,000)
Senior unsecured notes - Series B [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	5.00%
Long-term debt	$ 100,000,000	100,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series D [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.22%
Notes payable and debt	$ 100,000,000
Long-term debt		100,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series E [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.97%
Long-term debt	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series F [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.40%
Long-term debt	$ 100,000,000	100,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series G [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.92%
Long-term debt	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series H [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate terms on debt	* Series H senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.25%.
Long-term debt	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series I [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.13%
Long-term debt	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series J [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate terms on debt	** Series J senior unsecured notes bear interest at a 3-month LIBOR for that floating rate interest period plus 1.45%.
Long-term debt	$ 40,000,000	40,000,000
Senior unsecured notes - Series K [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt instrument	3.44%
Long-term debt	$ 160,000,000	160,000,000
Credit Agreements
Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate terms on debt	The interest rates applicable to the Amended Credit Agreement are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the alternate base rate calculated daily (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 1/2% per annum, or (c) the adjusted LIBO rate on such day (or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) for a deposit in U.S. dollars with a maturity of one month plus 1% per annum) or the applicable 1, 2, 3 or 6 month adjusted LIBO rate, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 basis points to 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 basis points and 117.5 basis points for adjusted LIBO rate loans.
Debt facility fee	The facility fee on the Amended Credit Agreement ranges between 7.5 basis points and 20 basis points.
Debt covenant description	The Amended Credit Agreement 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.
Notes payable and debt	$ 125,000,000	125,000,000
Long-term debt	1,045,000,000	1,005,000,000
Unused borrowing capacity	428,000,000	468,000,000
Credit Agreements | Term loan facility [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Face value of debt				$ 300,000,000
Credit Agreements | Revolving facilities [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Face value of debt			$ 1,300,000,000	$ 1,100,000,000
Notes payable and debt	125,000,000
Long-term debt	$ 745,000,000
Unsecured debt
Debt [Line Items]
Call feature on debt instrument	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, plus the applicable make-whole amount or prepayment premium for Series H and J senior unsecured notes. 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.
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.
Long-term debt	$ 700,000,000	$ 700,000,000
Credit Agreements and Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate	2.68%	2.55%

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Income Taxes (Details 1) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Line Items]
Income tax holiday amount	$ 5	$ 4
Income tax holiday per share benefit	$ 0.06	$ 0.05
Effective income tax rate	7.00%	11.80%
United States [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Line Items]
Marginal effective income tax rate	37.50%
Ireland [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Line Items]
Marginal effective income tax rate	12.50%
United Kingdom [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Line Items]
Marginal effective income tax rate	19.25%
Singapore [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Line Items]
Marginal effective income tax rate	0.00%
Statutory tax rate	17.00%
ASU 2016-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Quantification of adoption of new accounting pronouncement or change in accounting principle	$ (7)
Percentage point change in effective tax rate relating to new accounting pronouncement or change in accounting principle	(6.3)

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Income Taxes (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance at the beginning of the period	$ 9,964	$ 14,450
Net changes in uncertain tax benefits	(717)	(790)
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance at the end of the period	9,247	$ 13,660
Expected change in unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months	$ (4,000)

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Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Stock-Based Compensation Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted	$ 40.39	$ 34.63
Stock Options Outstanding Roll Forward [Abstract]
Options outstanding at beginning of period	2,697
Options granted	207	86
Options exercised	(415)
Options canceled	(43)
Options outstanding at end of period	2,446
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding at beginning of period	$ 106.55
Weighted-average exercise price of options granted	149.74	$ 122.65
Weighted-average exercise price of options exercised	89.05
Weighted average exercise price of options canceled	113.05
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding at end of period	$ 113.06
Stock-Based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Expense [Line Items]
Allocated stock-based compensation expense	$ 8,655,000	$ 15,841,000
Incremental stock-based compensation cost due to acceleration of awards	$ 7,000,000
Minimum
Stock Options Outstanding Roll Forward [Abstract]
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding at beginning of period	$ 38.09
Weighted-average exercise price of options granted	136.43
Weighted-average exercise price of options exercised	41.20
Weighted average exercise price of options canceled	87.06
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding at end of period	38.09
Maximum
Stock Options Outstanding Roll Forward [Abstract]
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding at beginning of period	139.51
Weighted-average exercise price of options granted	154.33
Weighted-average exercise price of options exercised	128.93
Weighted average exercise price of options canceled	136.43
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding at end of period	$ 154.33
Stock Options
Stock-Based Compensation Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Fair value assumptions, risk free interest rate	2.20%	1.50%
Fair value assumptions, expected life in years	6 years	5 years
Fair value assumptions, expected volatility	23.20%	28.60%
Fair value assumptions, expected dividends	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted Stock Plan
Unvested Awards Roll Forward
Shares granted	7
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted	$ 136.43
Restricted Stock Unit Plan
Stock-Based Compensation by Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	5 years
Unvested Awards Roll Forward
Unvested shares at beginning of period	453
Shares granted	105
Shares vested	(131)
Shares forfeited	(11)
Unvested shares at end of period	416
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares unvested at beginning of period	$ 110.34
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted	154.08
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares vested	105.13
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares forfeited	111.50
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares unvested at end of period	$ 122.99
Performance Stock Unit Plan
Stock-Based Compensation Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Fair value assumptions, risk free interest rate	1.50%
Fair value assumptions, expected life in years	3 years
Fair value assumptions, expected volatility	23.20%
Fair value assumptions, expected volatility of peer companies	26.10%
Fair value assumptions, correlation coefficient	38.50%
Fair value assumptions, expected dividends	$ 0
Unvested Awards Roll Forward
Unvested shares at beginning of period	27
Shares granted	20
Unvested shares at end of period	47
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares unvested at beginning of period	$ 171.16
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted	198.78
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares unvested at end of period	$ 184.40
Performance Stock Unit Plan | Minimum
Stock-Based Compensation by Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights	0.00%
Performance Stock Unit Plan | Maximum
Stock-Based Compensation by Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights	200.00%
Cost of sales [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Expense [Line Items]
Allocated stock-based compensation expense	$ 738,000	671,000
Selling and administrative expenses [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Expense [Line Items]
Allocated stock-based compensation expense	7,188,000	13,969,000
Research and development expenses [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Expense [Line Items]
Allocated stock-based compensation expense	$ 729,000	$ 1,201,000

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Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income	$ 105,557	$ 94,052
Net income per basic common share	$ 1.32	$ 1.16
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock, performance stock unit and restricted stock unit securities on earnings per share	(0.01)	(0.01)
Net income per diluted common share	$ 1.31	$ 1.15
Weighted-average number of basic common shares	80,073	81,275
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit securities on shares outstanding	696	699
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents	80,769	81,974
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	1,100	1,200

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the beginning of the period	$ (216,280)
Other comprehensive income	29,743	$ 18,779
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the end of the period	(186,537)
Currency Translation Adjustment
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the beginning of the period	(170,566)
Other comprehensive income	29,141
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the end of the period	(141,425)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Retirement Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the beginning of the period	(43,894)
Other comprehensive income	36
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the end of the period	(43,858)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the beginning of the period	(1,820)
Other comprehensive income	566
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, balance at the end of the period	$ (1,254)

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Retirement Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Minimum
Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Estimated future employer contributions in current fiscal year	$ 6,000
Maximum
Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Estimated future employer contributions in current fiscal year	11,000
U.S. Pension Plans
Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	101	$ 94
Interest cost	1,719	1,745
Expected return on plan assets	(2,663)	(2,417)
Net amortization: Net actuarial loss	651	667
Net periodic pension (benefit) cost	(192)	89
U.S. Retiree Healthcare Plan
Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	103	116
Interest cost	150	135
Expected return on plan assets	(147)	(130)
Net periodic pension (benefit) cost	106	121
Non-U.S. Pension Plans
Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	1,251	1,218
Interest cost	358	421
Expected return on plan assets	(402)	(399)
Net amortization: Prior service credit	(46)	(45)
Net amortization: Net actuarial loss	231	188
Net periodic pension (benefit) cost	$ 1,392	$ 1,383

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Business Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2016 USD ($)
Business Segment Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments	2
Number of reportable segments	1
Product sales	$ 324,296	$ 307,857
Service sales	173,673	167,389
Total net sales	497,969	475,246
Waters instrument systems [Member]
Business Segment Information [Line Items]
Product sales	197,789	188,529
Chemistry [Member]
Business Segment Information [Line Items]
Product sales	87,903	84,150
TA instrument systems [Member]
Business Segment Information [Line Items]
Product sales	38,604	35,178
Waters service [Member]
Business Segment Information [Line Items]
Service sales	157,734	151,514
TA service [Member]
Business Segment Information [Line Items]
Service sales	$ 15,939	$ 15,875

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Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net income per diluted common share	$ 1.31	$ 1.15
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Quantification of adoption of new accounting pronouncement or change in accounting principle	$ (7)
Net income per diluted common share	$ 0.09
Description of prior period information retrospectively adjusted as a result of new accounting pronouncement or change in accounting principle	In addition, the Company reclassified $2 million of excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation for the first quarter of 2016 from cash flows from financing activities to cash flows from operating activities.