GSK vs. WAT: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at GSK and WAT, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
GSK trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, WAT is a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | GSK | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | GSK plc | Waters Corporation |
| Country | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 89.72 billion USD | 19.55 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 28, 1980 | November 17, 1995 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of GSK and WAT by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | GSK | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 10.83% | 13.46% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 18.15% | -6.23% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 10.65% | -10.90% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 12.85% | -7.51% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 4.60% | 9.53% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 22.32% | -11.48% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 6.93M | 0.68M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 5.82M | 0.74M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 26.97% | 42.93% |
| Beta | 0.99 | 1.16 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
GSK
24.18%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 38.59%
- Q3
- 19.84%
- Median
- 11.85%
- Q1
- 5.40%
- Min
- -10.91%
In the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, GSK’s Return on Equity of 24.18% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
WAT
35.02%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.96%
- Q3
- 11.51%
- Median
- 6.47%
- Q1
- 3.86%
- Min
- -6.95%
WAT’s Return on Equity of 35.02% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
GSK
10.82%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 40.67%
- Q3
- 19.07%
- Median
- 12.31%
- Q1
- 4.50%
- Min
- -9.91%
GSK’s Net Profit Margin of 10.82% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
WAT
21.71%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 32.18%
- Q3
- 18.30%
- Median
- 10.19%
- Q1
- 4.20%
- Min
- -2.05%
A Net Profit Margin of 21.71% places WAT in the upper quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
GSK
16.22%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 45.78%
- Q3
- 23.14%
- Median
- 16.68%
- Q1
- 7.98%
- Min
- -7.13%
GSK’s Operating Profit Margin of 16.22% is around the midpoint for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
WAT
27.69%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 38.39%
- Q3
- 21.40%
- Median
- 13.57%
- Q1
- 8.38%
- Min
- -3.51%
An Operating Profit Margin of 27.69% places WAT in the upper quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | GSK | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 24.18% | 35.02% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.77% | 14.40% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.82% | 21.71% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 16.22% | 27.69% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 71.77% | 59.02% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
GSK
0.87
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 4.65
- Q3
- 2.64
- Median
- 1.85
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.78
GSK’s Current Ratio of 0.87 falls into the lower quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
WAT
1.75
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.46
- Q3
- 2.78
- Median
- 1.91
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- 0.43
WAT’s Current Ratio of 1.75 aligns with the median group of the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
GSK
1.17
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.82
- Median
- 0.35
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
GSK’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Pharmaceuticals industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.17. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
WAT
0.67
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.35
- Q3
- 0.74
- Median
- 0.41
- Q1
- 0.18
- Min
- 0.00
WAT’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.67 is typical for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
GSK
2.37
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 103.95
- Q3
- 43.60
- Median
- 9.83
- Q1
- 2.37
- Min
- -42.71
GSK’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.37 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
WAT
11.29
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 45.00
- Q3
- 27.84
- Median
- 7.16
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -14.08
WAT’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 11.29 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | GSK | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.87 | 1.75 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.57 | 1.22 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.17 | 0.67 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.37 | 11.29 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GSK
3.76%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 7.14%
- Q3
- 3.45%
- Median
- 2.17%
- Q1
- 0.33%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.76%, GSK offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
WAT
0.00%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.41%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WAT currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GSK
54.01%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 199.58%
- Q3
- 97.17%
- Median
- 53.47%
- Q1
- 22.97%
- Min
- 0.00%
GSK’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 54.01% is within the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
WAT
0.00%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 113.14%
- Q3
- 61.34%
- Median
- 17.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WAT has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | GSK | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.76% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.01% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
GSK
19.36
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 45.19
- Q3
- 27.91
- Median
- 20.59
- Q1
- 15.08
- Min
- 3.79
GSK’s P/E Ratio of 19.36 is within the middle range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
WAT
29.31
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 75.35
- Q3
- 51.00
- Median
- 32.93
- Q1
- 25.27
- Min
- 1.43
WAT’s P/E Ratio of 29.31 is within the middle range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
GSK
2.10
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 8.87
- Q3
- 4.56
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.58
- Min
- 0.11
GSK’s P/S Ratio of 2.10 aligns with the market consensus for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
WAT
6.36
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 10.49
- Q3
- 6.43
- Median
- 4.66
- Q1
- 2.88
- Min
- 1.08
WAT’s P/S Ratio of 6.36 aligns with the market consensus for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
GSK
3.84
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 9.78
- Q3
- 4.99
- Median
- 2.48
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- 0.59
GSK’s P/B Ratio of 3.84 is within the conventional range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
WAT
9.62
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 6.69
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 2.38
- Min
- 0.93
At 9.62, WAT’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | GSK | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 19.36 | 29.31 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.10 | 6.36 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.84 | 9.62 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 14.21 | 31.29 |