May 6 (Reuters) -

Waters raised its annual profit forecast on Tuesday,

after reporting better-than-expected first quarter results due

to higher demand for its medical instruments in Asia and the

Americas.

The company supplies lab equipment and technology across the

world, with the majority of its revenue coming from biopharma

clients who use its tools for research and drug development.

Although biotech companies have been skittish about buying

lab equipment amid the Trump administration's cuts across

federal health agencies, Waters CEO Udit Batra said the company

is well-positioned to mitigate the impact of tariffs and policy

changes.

The Milford, Massachusetts-based company forecast annual

adjusted profit between $12.75 per share and $13.05 per share,

compared with previous range of $12.70 per share to $13.00 per

share.

It now expects 2025 revenue growth in the range of 5% to 7%,

compared with previously projected revenue growth of 4.5% to 7%.

The 67-year-old firm expects current quarter adjusted profit

to be in the range of $2.88 per share to $2.98 per share.

Analysts on average expect it to be $2.93 per share.

Waters reported first-quarter adjusted profit of $2.25 per

share, beating analysts' estimates of $2.22 per share, according

to data compiled by LSEG.

Sales in Asia and the Americas jumped 6% each in the

quarter.

Larger peer Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO ) also reported

better-than-expected profit and revenue for the first quarter on

Wednesday, helped by resilient demand for its products and

services used for developing therapies.