BMY vs. WAT: Bristol-Myers Squibb vs. Waters Stock Comparison
How do Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Waters (WAT) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Waters (WAT) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BMY is classified in Pharmaceuticals while WAT is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
| Profile Item | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Waters Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 127.02 billion USD | 44.93 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | November 17, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.62% | 27.70% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.29% | 23.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 5.09% | 6.27% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) is heavily traded at around 10.85M shares per day, whereas Waters (WAT) sees a more moderate 816.72K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.01% | 35.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.19 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.67% | -36.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 10.85M | 816.72K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.23 | 0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | 0.98 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 44.01% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Waters (WAT) at 1.12% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BMY.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
44.01%
- Max
- 109.18%
- BMY
- 44.01%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.12%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- WAT
- 1.12%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 18.47% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Waters (WAT) at 1.76% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.47%
- BMY
- 18.47%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.76%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- WAT
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 33.79% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Waters (WAT) at 11.38%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.79%
- Max
- 83.12%
- BMY
- 33.79%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.38%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- WAT
- 11.38%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 44.01% | 1.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.90% | 2.36% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.47% | 1.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 33.79% | 11.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 70.50% | 49.83% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at -0.22% and Waters (WAT) at 6.99% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Waters (WAT) reports EPS growth of 0.47%, ranked against its industry; Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.22% | 6.99% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.45% | 2.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 0.47% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.46% | -2.84% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) shows current ratio of 1.59 against its industry benchmark, while Waters (WAT) has no reading this period.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.59
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- BMY
- 1.59
- Min
- 0.10
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
- WAT
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Waters (WAT) at 0.34 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 1.91 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.91
- BMY
- 1.91
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.34
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- WAT
- 0.34
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.59 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.91 | 0.34 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.77 | 3.23 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Waters (WAT) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) reports a yield of 3.99%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.99%
- BMY
- 3.99%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- WAT
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Waters (WAT) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) reports a payout of 55.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
55.88%
- BMY
- 55.88%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- WAT
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.99% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 55.88% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 13.78 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waters (WAT) at 191.46 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for WAT’s trailing earnings.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.78
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- BMY
- 13.78
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
191.46
- WAT
- 191.46
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 2.54 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Waters (WAT) at 8.01 prices around its industry’s middle — BMY costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.54
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- BMY
- 2.54
- Min
- 0.01
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.01
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- WAT
- 8.01
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 5.43 and Waters (WAT) at 2.94 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.43
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- BMY
- 5.43
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
WAT
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.94
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- WAT
- 2.94
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BMY | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.78 | 191.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.54 | 8.01 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.43 | 2.94 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.01% | -- |