VTRS vs. WAT: Viatris vs. Waters Stock Comparison
How do Viatris (VTRS) 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
Viatris (VTRS) and Waters (WAT) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but VTRS is classified in Pharmaceuticals while WAT is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
| Profile Item | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Viatris Inc. | 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 | 22.83 billion USD | 44.93 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | November 17, 1995 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 108.98% | 27.70% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 36.75% | 23.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.59% | 6.27% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.53% | 35.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.69% | -36.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.87M | 816.72K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 3.22 | 0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 5.63 | 0.98 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Viatris (VTRS) reports a negative ROE of -4.21%; 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.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-4.21%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- VTRS
- -4.21%
- 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)
Viatris (VTRS) reports a negative net margin of -4.13%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Waters (WAT) reports 1.76%, ranking against industry peers normally.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-4.13%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- VTRS
- -4.13%
- 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)
Both Viatris (VTRS) at 13.85% and Waters (WAT) at 11.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.85%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- VTRS
- 13.85%
- 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 | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -4.21% | 1.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.91% | 2.36% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -4.13% | 1.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 13.85% | 11.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 41.13% | 49.83% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Waters (WAT) at 6.99% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Viatris (VTRS) at -2.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Waters (WAT) reports EPS growth of 0.47%, ranked against its industry; Viatris (VTRS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.98% | 6.99% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.20% | 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: Viatris (VTRS) shows current ratio of 1.55 against its industry benchmark, while Waters (WAT) has no reading this period.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.55
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- VTRS
- 1.55
- 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 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Viatris (VTRS) at 0.99 uses more debt funding than most peers.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.99
- Max
- 1.42
- VTRS
- 0.99
- 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 | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.55 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.99 | 0.34 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.64 | 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 Viatris (VTRS) reports a yield of 2.53%, ranking against industry peers normally.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.53%
- VTRS
- 2.53%
- 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)
Viatris (VTRS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 960.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Waters (WAT) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
960.00%
- VTRS
- 960.00%
- 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 | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.53% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 960.00% | 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 Viatris (VTRS) has no P/E ratio this period.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
- VTRS
- --
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)
Viatris (VTRS) at 1.55 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Waters (WAT) at 8.01 prices around its industry’s middle — VTRS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.55
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- VTRS
- 1.55
- 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)
Viatris (VTRS) at 1.67 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Waters (WAT) at 2.94 is valued near its industry’s middle — VTRS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
VTRS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.67
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- VTRS
- 1.67
- 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 | VTRS | WAT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 191.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.55 | 8.01 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.67 | 2.94 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 13.84% | -- |