Waters Reports Increased Earnings for a challenging 2002

Waters reported increased fourth-quarter and year-end earnings last week. The company’s fourth quarter earnings totaled $40.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, on sales of $256.4 million, compared to a loss of $1.4 million or a penny per share on sales of $248.7 million for the same period last year. For 2002, the company earned $147.7 million on sales of $890 million, compared to $114.5 million on sales of $859.2 million in 2001.