Is WAT or ZTS cheaper?

On trailing earnings, ZTS is cheaper: WAT trades at a 45.18 P/E and ZTS at 13.20.

Which has grown faster, WAT or ZTS?

Over the past five years, WAT grew revenue faster — WAT at a 8.48% CAGR versus ZTS at 6.28%.

Does WAT or ZTS pay a bigger dividend?

ZTS pays a dividend (2.59% yield) while WAT does not currently pay one.

Is WAT or ZTS more profitable?

ZTS runs the higher net margin — WAT at 11.91% versus ZTS at 27.79%.

Which has been the better investment, WAT or ZTS?

Over the past 10-year, WAT delivered the higher annualized total return — WAT at 9.92% versus ZTS at 6.19%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Waters Corporation (WAT) vs Zoetis Inc. (ZTS)

ZTS leads on 13 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Waters Corporation and Zoetis Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Total return — WAT vs ZTS

growth of $100 · last 13y

WAT +288.3%ZTS +156.6%WAT compounded faster

WAT ZTS

WAT vs ZTS: by the numbers

•ZTS is the larger company ($33.36B vs $23.17B market cap).
•ZTS trades at the lower earnings multiple (13.20 vs 45.18 P/E).
•ZTS converts more revenue to profit (27.79% vs 11.91% net margin).
•WAT grew revenue faster over the past five years (8.48% vs 6.28% CAGR).
•ZTS pays a dividend (2.59% yield) while WAT does not currently pay one.

Which is better, WAT or ZTS?

Metric tally: WAT 3 · ZTS 13

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueZTS(lower P/E)

GrowthWAT(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

QualityZTS(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	WAT	ZTS
P/E ratio	45.18	13.20●
Forward P/E	21.65	10.75●
P/S ratio	7.74	3.53●
P/B ratio	1.91●	10.40
PEG ratio	75.62	2.04●
EV / EBITDA	37.11	10.15●
FCF yield	0.90%	6.35%●

Profitability

Metric	WAT	ZTS
Gross margin	55.02%	70.75%●
Operating margin	17.08%	37.57%●
Net margin	11.91%	27.79%●
ROE	2.94%	81.75%●
ROIC	17.57%	21.54%●

Dividends

Metric	WAT	ZTS
Dividend yield	—	2.59%
Payout ratio	—	34.16%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	WAT	ZTS
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	8.48%●	6.28%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	5.16%	11.88%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-17.63%	4.90%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	1.10%●	-14.40%

Frequently asked

Which is better, WAT or ZTS?: It depends on your goal. value: ZTS (lower P/E); growth: WAT (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: ZTS (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ZTS leads 13 to 3.
Is WAT or ZTS cheaper?: On trailing earnings, ZTS is cheaper: WAT trades at a 45.18 P/E and ZTS at 13.20.
Which has grown faster, WAT or ZTS?: Over the past five years, WAT grew revenue faster — WAT at a 8.48% CAGR versus ZTS at 6.28%.
Does WAT or ZTS pay a bigger dividend?: ZTS pays a dividend (2.59% yield) while WAT does not currently pay one.
Is WAT or ZTS more profitable?: ZTS runs the higher net margin — WAT at 11.91% versus ZTS at 27.79%.
Which has been the better investment, WAT or ZTS?: Over the past 10-year, WAT delivered the higher annualized total return — WAT at 9.92% versus ZTS at 6.19%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full WAT analysis Full ZTS analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Waters P/E ratio Zoetis P/E ratio Waters dividend yield Zoetis dividend yield Waters ROE Zoetis ROE Waters operating margin Zoetis operating margin Waters revenue growth Zoetis revenue growth Waters free cash flow Zoetis free cash flow

Waters & Zoetis appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Highest ROE Stocks Highest ROIC Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 15, 2026.