8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 27, 2020

Waters Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	01-14010	13-3668640
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

34 Maple Street, Milford, Massachusetts	01757
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(508) 478-2000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). 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.  ☐

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On October 27, 2020, Waters Corporation announced its results of operations for the quarter ended September 26, 2020. A copy of the related press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1	Waters Corporation press release dated October 27, 2020 for the quarter ended September 26, 2020.
104	Cover page Interactive Date File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	WATERS CORPORATION
Dated: October 27, 2020		By:	/s/ Sherry L. Buck
		Name:	Sherry L. Buck
		Title:	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Contact: Bryan Brokmeier, CFA, Senior Director, Investor Relations, 508-482-3448

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

• Sales of $594 million grew 3% as reported and 2% in constant currency

• Year-over-year sales increase driven by pharmaceutical and industrial end markets

• Growth in the U.S., Europe, and China, partially offset by declines in other areas

• Recurring revenue grew 5% in constant currency and instrument sales stabilized

• GAAP EPS of $2.03; non-GAAP EPS of $2.16, a 1% increase from prior year

• Strong adjusted free cash flow of $190 million, a 53% increase from prior year

Milford, Mass., October 27, 2020 - Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced third quarter 2020 sales of $594 million, a 3% increase as reported, compared to sales of $577 million for the third quarter of 2019. Foreign currency translation benefitted sales growth by approximately 1% for the quarter.

On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of 2020 decreased to $2.03, compared to $2.07 for the third quarter of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS increased to $2.16, compared to $2.13 in the third quarter of 2019. A description and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results appear in the tables below and can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.waters.com under the caption “Investors.”

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $173 million for the third quarter of 2020, compared to $148 million for the third quarter of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the third quarter of 2020 was $190 million versus $124 million for the third quarter of 2019.

For the first nine months of 2020, the Company’s sales were $1,579 million, a decrease of 7% as reported, compared to sales of $1,690 million for the first nine months of 2019. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales growth by approximately 1% for the first nine months of 2020.

On a GAAP basis, EPS for the first nine months of 2020 decreased to $4.86, compared to $5.63 for the first nine months of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS decreased to $5.41, compared to $5.85 in the first nine months of 2019. The decrease in both GAAP and non-GAAP EPS can be primarily attributed to the decline in sales volumes.

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $523 million for the first nine months of 2020, compared to $451 million for the first nine months of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the first nine months of 2020 was $486 million versus $418 million for the first nine months of 2019.

“We are pleased with our solid financial results in the third quarter, which were driven by growth across geographies, while we remain cognizant of the ongoing variability we expect to face in our

end markets during the fourth quarter,” commented Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation. “Since joining the Company, I have been working diligently to assess Waters’ overall positioning and to identify key areas in need of improvement. I believe that Waters has established a solid foundation for growth and that we must now turn our focus to improving the consistency of our commercial execution and product development efforts. We will move swiftly, but deliberately, to reinvigorate our business and address those areas in which Waters has underperformed.”

Unless otherwise noted, sales growth and decline percentages are presented on an as-reported basis and are the same as the sales growth and decline percentages presented on a constant-currency basis as compared with the same period in the prior year, each of which is detailed in the reconciliation of sales growth rates to constant-currency growth rates in the tables below.

During the third quarter of 2020, sales into the pharmaceutical market increased 5% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market increased 5% as reported and 3% in constant currency, and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 8% as reported and 7% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, sales into the pharmaceutical market declined 5% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market declined 6% as reported and in constant currency, and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 17% as reported and 16% in constant currency.

During the third quarter, recurring revenues, which represent the combination of service and precision chemistries revenues, increased 6% as reported and 5% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 1% as reported and in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, recurring revenues were flat as reported and increased 1% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 15% as reported and 14% in constant currency.

Geographically, sales in Asia during the quarter declined 1% as reported and were flat in constant currency, sales in the Americas increased 2% (with U.S. sales growing 5%), and sales in Europe increased 11% as reported and 5% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, sales in Asia declined 11% as reported and 10% in constant currency, sales in the Americas declined 7% (with U.S. sales declining 5%), and sales in Europe were flat as reported and in constant currency.

Conference Call

Waters Corporation will webcast its third quarter 2020 financial results conference call today, October 27, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, please visit www.waters.com, choose “Investors” and click on the “Live Webcast.” A replay will be available through November 3, 2020 at midnight Eastern Time on the same website by webcast and also by phone at 800-395-6236.

About Waters Corporation

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the “world’s” leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,000 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.waters.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial measures, such as constant-currency growth rate, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted share and free cash flow, among others, which are considered “non-GAAP” financial measures under applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company’s definitions of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release adjust for specified items that can be highly variable or difficult to predict. The Company generally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate management’s financial and operational decision-making, including evaluation of the Company’s historical operating results, comparison to competitors’ operating results and determination of management incentive compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company’s operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, may provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the Company’s business. Because non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of items that will increase or decrease the Company’s reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the Company’s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.

Cautionary Statement

This release contains “forward-looking” statements regarding future results and events. For this purpose, any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “feels”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “suggests”, “appears”, “estimates”, “projects” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements within this release for a variety of reasons, including and without limitation, risks related to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including: portions of our global workforce being unable to work fully and/or effectively due to working remotely, illness, quarantines, government actions, facility closures or other reasons related to the pandemic, increased risks of cyber attacks resulting from our temporary remote working model, disruptions in our manufacturing capabilities or to our supply chain, volatility and uncertainty in global capital markets limiting our ability to access capital, customers being unable to make timely payments for purchases and volatility in demand for our products; foreign exchange rate fluctuations potentially affecting translation of the Company’s future non-U.S. operating results; the impact on demand for the Company’s products among the Company’s various market sectors or geographies from economic, sovereign and political uncertainties, particularly regarding the effect of new or proposed tariff or trade regulations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing regulations; the effect on

the Company’s financial results from the United Kingdom exiting the European Union; fluctuations in expenditures by the Company’s customers, in particular large pharmaceutical companies; introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share; pressures on prices from competitors and/or customers; regulatory, economic and competitive obstacles to new product introductions; other changes in demand for the Company’s products from the effect of mergers and acquisitions by the Company’s customers; increased regulatory burdens as the Company’s business evolves, especially with respect to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others; shifts in taxable income in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates; the outcome of tax examinations or changes in respective country legislation affecting the Company’s effective tax rate; the effect of the adoption of new accounting standards; the ability to access capital, maintain liquidity and service the Company’s debt in volatile market conditions, particularly in the U.S., as a large portion of the Company’s cash is held and operating cash flows are generated outside the U.S.; environmental and logistical obstacles affecting the distribution of products and risks associated with lawsuits and other legal actions, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as in the sections entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 28, 2020 and June 27, 2020, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which discussions are incorporated by reference in this release, as updated by the Company’s future filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release represent the Company’s estimates or views as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 26, 2020			September 28, 2019			September 26, 2020			September 28, 2019
Net sales	$	593,784		$	577,278		$	1,578,707		$	1,690,302
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales		262,342			241,055			686,120			711,632
Selling and administrative expenses		135,430			126,036			400,614			393,583
Research and development expenses		34,971			34,333			101,115			105,883
Purchased intangibles amortization		2,657			2,619			7,900			7,164
Litigation provision		—			—			1,180			—
Operating income		158,384			173,235			381,778			472,040
Other expense		(1,039	)		(496	)		(2,149	)		(1,363	)
Interest expense, net		(6,908	)		(8,001	)		(25,966	)		(16,826	)
Income from operations before income taxes		150,437			164,738			353,663			453,851
Provision for income taxes(1)		23,668			26,605			50,403			62,322
Net income	$	126,769		$	138,133		$	303,260		$	391,529
Net income per basic common share	$	2.04		$	2.09		$	4.89		$	5.68
Weighted-average number of basic common shares		62,002			66,226			62,057			68,952
Net income per diluted common share	$	2.03		$	2.07		$	4.86		$	5.63
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		62,303			66,768			62,371			69,533

(1) The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 included a $3 million benefit related to the tax on the change in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings taxed in December 31, 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the subsequent finalization of the tax regulations during the first quarter of 2019. The difference is due to the change from the foreign currency exchange rates required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 31, 2017 to the foreign currency exchange rates on either the date of distribution of assets into the U.S. or the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 28, 2019.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP

Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets

Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019

(In thousands)

								Current
								Period			Constant
	Three Months Ended				Percent			Currency			Currency
	September 26, 2020		September 28, 2019		Change			Impact			Growth Rate (a)
NET SALES - OPERATING SEGMENT
Waters	$	533,466	$	512,146		4	%	$	4,759			3	%
TA		60,318		65,132		(7	%)		532			(8	%)
Total	$	593,784	$	577,278		3	%	$	5,291			2	%
NET SALES - PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Instruments	$	268,064	$	270,317		(1	%)	$	1,692			(1	%)
Service		217,545		206,705		5	%		2,230			4	%
Chemistry		108,175		100,256		8	%		1,369			7	%
Total Recurring		325,720		306,961		6	%		3,599			5	%
Total	$	593,784	$	577,278		3	%	$	5,291			2	%
NET SALES - GEOGRAPHY
Asia	$	236,182	$	237,775		(1	%)	$	(2,254	)		—
Americas		199,447		196,458		2	%		(106	)		2	%
Europe		158,155		143,045		11	%		7,651			5	%
Total	$	593,784	$	577,278		3	%	$	5,291			2	%
NET SALES - MARKETS
Pharmaceutical	$	343,001	$	328,227		5	%	$	2,537			4	%
Industrial		179,128		171,352		5	%		3,345			3	%
Academic & Governmental		71,655		77,699		(8	%)		(591	)		(7	%)
Total	$	593,784	$	577,278		3	%	$	5,291			2	%
NET SALES - EXCLUDING CHINA
Total Net Sales	$	593,784	$	577,278		3	%	$	5,291			2	%
China Net Sales		115,666		111,657		4	%		951			3	%
Total Net Sales Excluding China	$	478,118	$	465,621		3	%	$	4,340			2	%

(a) The Company believes that referring to comparable constant-currency growth rates is a useful way to evaluate the underlying performance of Waters Corporation’s net sales. Constant-currency growth rate, a non-GAAP financial measure, measures the change in net sales between current and prior year periods, ignoring the impact of foreign currency exchange rates during the current period. See description of non-GAAP financial measures contained in this release.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP

Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets

Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019

(In thousands)

								Current
								Period			Constant
	Nine Months Ended				Percent			Currency			Currency
	September 26, 2020		September 28, 2019		Change			Impact			Growth Rate (a)
NET SALES - OPERATING SEGMENT
Waters	$	1,413,386	$	1,503,177		(6	%)	$	(5,001	)		(6	%)
TA		165,321		187,125		(12	%)		(613	)		(11	%)
Total	$	1,578,707	$	1,690,302		(7	%)	$	(5,614	)		(6	%)
NET SALES - PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Instruments	$	664,817	$	778,540		(15	%)	$	(2,187	)		(14	%)
Service		613,365		611,961		—			(2,916	)		1	%
Chemistry		300,525		299,801		—			(511	)		—
Total Recurring		913,890		911,762		—			(3,427	)		1	%
Total	$	1,578,707	$	1,690,302		(7	%)	$	(5,614	)		(6	%)
NET SALES - GEOGRAPHY
Asia	$	603,471	$	677,122		(11	%)	$	(6,801	)		(10	%)
Americas		546,405		585,101		(7	%)		(35	)		(7	%)
Europe		428,831		428,079		—			1,222			—
Total	$	1,578,707	$	1,690,302		(7	%)	$	(5,614	)		(6	%)
NET SALES - MARKETS
Pharmaceutical	$	926,582	$	972,884		(5	%)	$	(4,937	)		(4	%)
Industrial		474,592		502,679		(6	%)		1,410			(6	%)
Academic & Governmental		177,533		214,739		(17	%)		(2,087	)		(16	%)
Total	$	1,578,707	$	1,690,302		(7	%)	$	(5,614	)		(6	%)
NET SALES - EXCLUDING CHINA
Total Net Sales	$	1,578,707	$	1,690,302		(7	%)	$	(5,614	)		(6	%)
China Net Sales		252,713		314,544		(20	%)		(1,897	)		(19	%)
Total Net Sales Excluding China	$	1,325,994	$	1,375,758		(4	%)	$	(3,717	)		(3	%)

(a) The Company believes that referring to comparable constant-currency growth rates is a useful way to evaluate the underlying performance of Waters Corporation’s net sales. Constant-currency growth rate, a non-GAAP financial measure, measures the change in net sales between current and prior year periods, ignoring the impact of foreign currency exchange rates during the current period. See description of non-GAAP financial measures contained in this release.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Financials

Three & Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019

(In thousands, except per share data)

	Selling & Administrative Expenses(a)			Operating Income		Operating Income Percentage			Other Expense			Income from Operations before Income Taxes		Provision for Income Taxes			Net Income			Diluted Earnings per Share
Quarter Ended September 26, 2020
GAAP	$	138,087		$	158,384		26.7	%	$	(1,039	)	$	150,437	$	23,668		$	126,769		$	2.03
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)		(2,657	)		2,657		0.4	%		—			2,657		524			2,133			0.03
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)		(6,771	)		6,771		1.1	%		—			6,771		1,692			5,079			0.08
Certain income tax items (d)		—			—		—			—			—		(685	)		685			0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	128,659		$	167,812		28.3	%	$	(1,039	)	$	159,865	$	25,199		$	134,666		$	2.16
Quarter Ended September 28, 2019
GAAP	$	128,655		$	173,235		30.0	%	$	(496	)	$	164,738	$	26,605		$	138,133		$	2.07
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)		(2,619	)		2,619		0.5	%		—			2,619		535			2,084			0.03
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)		(1,596	)		1,596		0.3	%		—			1,596		350			1,246			0.02
Certain income tax items (d)		—			—		—			—			—		(600	)		600			0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	124,440		$	177,450		30.7	%	$	(496	)	$	168,953	$	26,890		$	142,063		$	2.13
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020
GAAP	$	409,694		$	381,778		24.2	%	$	(2,149	)	$	353,663	$	50,403		$	303,260		$	4.86
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)		(7,900	)		7,900		0.5	%		—			7,900		1,561			6,339			0.10
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)		(33,054	)		33,054		2.1	%		(461	)		32,593		7,373			25,220			0.40
Litigation provisions (e)		(1,180	)		1,180		0.1	%		—			1,180		283			897			0.01
Certain income tax items (d)		—			—		—			—			—		(1,567	)		1,567			0.03
Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	367,560		$	423,912		26.9	%	$	(2,610	)	$	395,336	$	58,053		$	337,283		$	5.41
Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019
GAAP	$	400,747		$	472,040		27.9	%	$	(1,363	)	$	453,851	$	62,322		$	391,529		$	5.63
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)		(7,164	)		7,164		0.4	%		—			7,164		1,520			5,644			0.08
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)		(14,382	)		14,382		0.9	%		—			14,382		3,623			10,759			0.15
Tax reform (f)		—			—		—			—			—		3,229			(3,229	)		(0.05	)
Certain income tax items (d)		—			—		—			—			—		(1,908	)		1,908			0.03
Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	379,201		$	493,586		29.2	%	$	(1,363	)	$	475,397	$	68,786		$	406,611		$	5.85

(a) Selling & administrative expenses include purchased intangibles amortization and litigation provisions.

(b) The purchased intangibles amortization, a non-cash expense, was excluded to be consistent with how management evaluates the performance of its core business against historical operating results and the operating results of competitors over periods of time.

(c) Restructuring costs and certain other items were excluded as the Company believes that the cost to consolidate operations and reduce overhead and certain other income or expense items are not normal and do not represent future ongoing business expenses of a specific function or geographic location of the Company.

(d) Certain income tax items were excluded as these non-cash expenses and benefits represent updates in management’s assessment of ongoing examinations or other tax items that are not indicative of the Company’s normal or future income tax expense.

(e) Litigation provisions were excluded as these items are isolated, unpredictable and not expected to recur regularly.

(f) The provision for income taxes for nine months ended September 28, 2019 included a $3 million benefit related to the tax on the change in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings taxed in December 31, 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the subsequent finalization of the tax regulations during the first quarter of 2019. The difference is due to the change from the foreign currency exchange rates required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 31, 2017 to the foreign currency exchange rates on either the date of distribution of assets into the U.S. or the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 28, 2019.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Preliminary Condensed Unclassified Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands and unaudited)

	September 26, 2020			December 31, 2019
Cash, cash equivalents and investments	$	397,070		$	337,144
Accounts receivable		494,432			587,734
Inventories		326,946			320,551
Property, plant and equipment, net		469,721			417,342
Intangible assets, net		255,168			240,203
Goodwill		431,078			356,128
Other assets		304,871			297,953
Total assets	$	2,679,286		$	2,557,055
Notes payable and debt	$	1,571,337		$	1,681,163
Other liabilities		1,149,530			1,092,173
Total liabilities		2,720,867			2,773,336
Total stockholders’ deficit		(41,581	)		(216,281	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$	2,679,286		$	2,557,055

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Three and Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019

(In thousands and unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 26, 2020			September 28, 2019			September 26, 2020			September 28, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	126,769		$	138,133		$	303,260		$	391,529
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		9,593			9,662			27,715			28,917
Depreciation and amortization		30,888			26,704			91,091			80,319
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net		5,329			(26,110	)		100,959			(49,573	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		172,579			148,389			523,025			451,192
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(28,311	)		(45,017	)		(125,340	)		(110,205	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			—			(76,664	)		—
Investment in unaffiliated companies		(500	)		(2,500	)		(3,850	)		(7,250	)
Net change in investments		(5,415	)		87,895			(20,707	)		942,896
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(34,226	)		40,378			(226,561	)		825,441
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		(125,000	)		206,830			(110,366	)		206,948
Proceeds from stock plans		13,682			4,182			28,421			34,311
Purchases of treasury shares		(56	)		(580,065	)		(196,353	)		(1,909,700	)
Other cash flow from financing activities, net		2,772			2,246			10,330			6,900
Net cash used in financing activities		(108,602	)		(366,807	)		(267,968	)		(1,661,541	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		6,147			(5,309	)		10,723			(6,723	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		35,898			(183,349	)		39,219			(391,631	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		339,036			587,998			335,715			796,280
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	374,934		$	404,649		$	374,934		$	404,649
Reconciliation of GAAP Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow (a)
Net cash provided by operating activities - GAAP	$	172,579		$	148,389		$	523,025		$	451,192
Adjustments:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(28,311	)		(45,017	)		(125,340	)		(110,205	)
Tax reform payments		38,454			—			38,454			29,109
Major facility renovations		7,253			21,073			50,320			48,348
Free Cash Flow - Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	189,975		$	124,445		$	486,459		$	418,444

(a) The Company defines free cash flow as net cash flow from operations accounted for under GAAP less capital expenditures and software capitalizations plus or minus any unusual and non recurring items. Free cash flow is not a GAAP measurement and may not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies.

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Document and Entity Information	Oct. 27, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WATERS CORP /DE/
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001000697
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Oct. 27, 2020
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	01-14010
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3668640
Entity Address, Address Line One	34 Maple Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Milford
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	01757
City Area Code	(508)
Local Phone Number	478-2000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	WAT
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false