RVTY vs WAT

For growth investors, Waters Corporation (WAT) is the stronger pick with 7.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for Revvity, Inc. (RVTY). Waters Corporation (WAT) offers the better valuation at 32. 5x trailing P/E (24. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Revvity, Inc. (RVTY) a "Buy" — based on 29 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Waters Corporation (WAT) is the cheapest at 32.

5x versus Revvity, Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, Revvity, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Waters Corporation (WAT) delivered a total return of +13.

1%, compared to -26. 9% for Revvity, Inc. (RVTY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WAT returned +163. 2% versus RVTY's +87. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Waters Corporation (WAT) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

07β versus Revvity, Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning RVTY is approximately 47% more volatile than WAT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Revvity, Inc. (RVTY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% versus 55% for Waters Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Waters Corporation (WAT) is pulling ahead at 7.

0% versus 3. 7% for Revvity, Inc. (RVTY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Waters Corporation grew EPS 0. 5% year-over-year, compared to -13. 7% for Revvity, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WAT leads at 2. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Waters Corporation (WAT) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

3% net margin versus 8. 5% for Revvity, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WAT leads at 28. 2% versus 12. 5% for RVTY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WAT leads at 57. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Revvity, Inc.

(RVTY) trades at 18. 4x forward P/E versus 24. 3x for Waters Corporation — 5. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WAT: 15. 2% to $402. 57.

In this comparison, RVTY (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. WAT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Waters Corporation (WAT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

07), +163. 2% 10Y return). Revvity, Inc. (RVTY) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WAT: +163. 2%, RVTY: +87. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.