Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 27, 2014

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis [Abstract]

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 27, 2014 (in thousands):

					Quoted Prices
					in Active		Significant
					Markets		Other		Significant
					for Identical		Observable		Unobservable
			Total at		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
			September 27, 2014		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities		$	578,452	$	-	$	578,452	$	-
	Foreign government securities			49,992		-		49,992		-
	Corporate debt securities			935,298		-		935,298		-
	Time deposits			64,216		-		64,216		-
	Equity securities			147		-		147		-
	Other cash equivalents			33,001		-		33,001		-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			32,653		-		32,653		-
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements		279		-		279		-
		Total	$	1,694,038	$	-	$	1,694,038	$	-

Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration		$	3,336	$	-	$	-	$	3,336
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements		439		-		439		-
		Total	$	3,775	$	-	$	439	$	3,336

The following table represents the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

					Quoted Prices
					in Active		Significant
					Markets		Other		Significant
			Total at		for Identical		Observable		Unobservable
			December 31,		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
			2013		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets:
	U.S. Treasury securities		$	556,539	$	-	$	556,539	$	-
	Foreign government securities			139,670		-		139,670		-
	Corporate debt securities			629,434		-		629,434		-
	Time deposits			74,050		-		74,050		-
	Equity securities			147		-		147		-
	Other cash equivalents			62,851		-		62,851		-
	Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			31,203		-		31,203		-
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements		929		-		929		-
		Total	$	1,494,823	$	-	$	1,494,823	$	-

Liabilities:
	Foreign currency exchange contract
		agreements	$	88	$	-	$	88	$	-
		Total	$	88	$	-	$	88	$	-

Summary of Derivative Instruments by Risk Exposure [Abstract]

Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts

The following is a summary of the activity in the statements of operations related to the forward foreign exchange contracts (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 27, 2014		September 28, 2013		September 27, 2014		September 28, 2013
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts	$	(266)	$	1,837	$	(366)	$	5,866
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts		(43)		489		(1,000)		(208)
Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains	$	(309)	$	2,326	$	(1,366)	$	5,658

Fair Value of Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Company's foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

	September 27, 2014		December 31, 2013
Other current assets	$	279	$	929
Other current liabilities	$	439	$	88

Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract]

Warranty Accrual Roll Forward

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company's accrued warranty liability for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 (in thousands):

	Balance at						Balance at
	Beginning		Accruals for		Settlements		End of
	of Period		Warranties		Made		Period
Accrued warranty liability:
September 27, 2014	$	12,962	$	5,292	$	(5,773)	$	12,481
September 28, 2013	$	12,353	$	5,384	$	(5,773)	$	11,964