MTD vs. WAT: Mettler-Toledo vs. Waters Stock Comparison
How do Mettler-Toledo (MTD) 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
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) and Waters (WAT) are both classified in the Life Sciences Tools & Services sub-industry within the broader Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mettler-Toledo International Inc. | Waters Corporation |
| Country/Region | Switzerland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 34.25 billion USD | 44.93 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 14, 1997 | November 17, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 21.58% | 27.70% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.54% | 23.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.36% | 6.27% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.70% | 35.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.15 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.47% | -36.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 197.80K | 816.72K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 0.98 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Waters (WAT) earns 1.12% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Mettler-Toledo (MTD) has no ROE this period.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- MTD
- --
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)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 22.25% 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.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.25%
- MTD
- 22.25%
- 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)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 28.70% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Waters (WAT) at 11.38%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.70%
- Max
- 83.12%
- MTD
- 28.70%
- 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 | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 1.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.09% | 2.36% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.25% | 1.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.70% | 11.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 59.16% | 49.83% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.98% 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
Both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.88% and Waters (WAT) at 0.47% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.98% | 6.99% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.90% | 2.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 3.88% | 0.47% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.06% | -2.84% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Mettler-Toledo (MTD) shows current ratio of 1.10 against its industry benchmark, while Waters (WAT) has no reading this period.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.10
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MTD
- 1.10
- 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 Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 26.06 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.06
- MTD
- 26.06
- 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 | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.10 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 26.06 | 0.34 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.58 | 3.23 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Mettler-Toledo (MTD) nor Waters (WAT) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Mettler-Toledo (MTD) nor Waters (WAT) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 37.38 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.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
37.38
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- MTD
- 37.38
- Median
- 26.69
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 8.16 and Waters (WAT) at 8.01 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.16
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- MTD
- 8.16
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Waters (WAT) at 2.94 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 442.71 prices above its benchmark range — MTD looks rich relative to book.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
442.71
- MTD
- 442.71
- Max
- 13.53
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 37.38 | 191.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.16 | 8.01 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 442.71 | 2.94 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.97% | -- |