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MRNA vs. WAT: Moderna vs. Waters Stock Comparison

How do Moderna (MRNA) 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

Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MRNA is classified in Biotechnology while WAT is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

Company profile comparison for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
Profile ItemMRNAWAT
NameModerna Inc.Waters Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization101.48 billion USD44.93 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 7, 2018November 17, 1995
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MRNA
WAT
GSPC
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
Total Return (1Y)1,031.66%27.70%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)58.68%23.32%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.23%6.27%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MRNA
WAT
GSPC
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Moderna (MRNA) is heavily traded at around 21.61M 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.

Risk profile metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)194.88%35.45%
Beta (5Y)1.081.13
Max Drawdown (5Y)-93.93%-36.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)21.61M816.72K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MRNA and WAT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)5.270.66
Sortino Ratio (1Y)20.440.98

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative ROE of -39.00%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Waters (WAT) reports 1.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-39.00%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
MRNA
-39.00%
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%
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Waters (WAT) reports 1.76%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-141.43%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
MRNA
-141.43%

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%
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative operating margin of -557.93%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Waters (WAT) reports 11.38%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-557.93%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
MRNA
-557.93%

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%
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
ROE (TTM)-39.00%1.12%
ROA (TTM)-13.26%2.36%
Net Margin (TTM)-141.43%1.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)-557.93%11.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)-66.02%49.83%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Waters (WAT) at 6.99% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Waters (WAT) reports EPS growth of 0.47%, ranked against its industry; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
Revenue Growth (YoY)-39.92%6.99%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-53.30%2.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)--0.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---2.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Moderna (MRNA) shows current ratio of 2.30 against its industry benchmark, while Waters (WAT) has no reading this period.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.30

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
MRNA
2.30
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
--
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): WAT does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; MRNA is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 and Waters (WAT) at 0.34 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.19

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
MRNA
0.19
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
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.30--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.190.34
Net Debt / EBITDA--3.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Moderna (MRNA) nor Waters (WAT) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

MRNA
0.00%
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%
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Moderna (MRNA) nor Waters (WAT) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

MRNA
0.00%
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%
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Waters (WAT) trades at 191.46 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Moderna (MRNA) has no P/E ratio this period.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
MRNA
--

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
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): MRNA does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; WAT is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Waters (WAT) at 8.01 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 sits in the pricier quartile — MRNA costs more per dollar of sales.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

45.55

Max
58.18
MRNA
45.55
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
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
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Waters (WAT) at 2.94 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 carries an above-peer premium to book — MRNA is pricier on assets.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

11.58

Max
13.53
MRNA
11.58
Q3
6.54
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
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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Waters (WAT)
MetricMRNAWAT
P/E Ratio (TTM)--191.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)45.558.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.582.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.29%--