end markets during the fourth quarter,” commented Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation. “Since joining the Company, I have been working diligently to assess Waters’ overall positioning and to identify key areas in need of improvement. I believe that Waters has established a solid foundation for growth and that we must now turn our focus to improving the consistency of our commercial execution and product development efforts. We will move swiftly, but deliberately, to reinvigorate our business and address those areas in which Waters has underperformed.”
Unless otherwise noted, sales growth and decline percentages are presented on an as-reported basis and are the same as the sales growth and decline percentages presented on a constant-currency basis as compared with the same period in the prior year, each of which is detailed in the reconciliation of sales growth rates to constant-currency growth rates in the tables below.
During the third quarter of 2020, sales into the pharmaceutical market increased 5% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market increased 5% as reported and 3% in constant currency, and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 8% as reported and 7% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, sales into the pharmaceutical market declined 5% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market declined 6% as reported and in constant currency, and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 17% as reported and 16% in constant currency.
During the third quarter, recurring revenues, which represent the combination of service and precision chemistries revenues, increased 6% as reported and 5% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 1% as reported and in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, recurring revenues were flat as reported and increased 1% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 15% as reported and 14% in constant currency.
Geographically, sales in Asia during the quarter declined 1% as reported and were flat in constant currency, sales in the Americas increased 2% (with U.S. sales growing 5%), and sales in Europe increased 11% as reported and 5% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, sales in Asia declined 11% as reported and 10% in constant currency, sales in the Americas declined 7% (with U.S. sales declining 5%), and sales in Europe were flat as reported and in constant currency.
Conference Call
Waters Corporation will webcast its third quarter 2020 financial results conference call today, October 27, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, please visit www.waters.com, choose “Investors” and click on the “Live Webcast.” A replay will be available through November 3, 2020 at midnight Eastern Time on the same website by webcast and also by phone at 800-395-6236.
About Waters Corporation
Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the “world’s” leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,000 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.waters.com.