XML 43 R28.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.4

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Activity of Company's Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands). The December 31, 2020 balance is calculated using the CECL method and the December 31, 2019 and 2018 balances are calculated using the incurred loss method under legacy GAAP:

		Balance at Beginning of Period				Impact of CECL Adoption				Additions				Deductions				Balance at End of Period
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
December 31, 2020		$	9,560			$	985			$	9,051			$	(5,215	)		$	14,381
December 31, 2019		$	7,663			$	—			$	4,701			$	(2,804	)		$	9,560
December 31, 2018		$	6,109			$	—			$	6,333			$	(4,779	)		$	7,663

Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 (in thousands):

		Total at December 31, 2020				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits		$	6,451			$	—			$	6,451			$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			38,988				38,988				—				—
Foreign currency exchange contracts			836				—				836				—
Total		$	46,275			$	38,988			$	7,287			$	—
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration		$	1,185			$	—			$	—			$	1,185
Foreign currency exchange contracts			185				—				185				—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements			44,996				—				44,996				—
Total		$	46,366			$	—			$	45,181			$	1,185

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

		Total at December 31, 2019				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Time deposits		$	1,642			$	—			$	1,642			$	—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			30,158				30,158				—				—
Foreign currency exchange contracts			16				—				16				—
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements			4,485				—				4,485				—
Total		$	36,301			$	30,158			$	6,143			$	—
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration		$	2,557			$	—			$	—			$	2,557
Foreign currency exchange contracts			1,028				—				1,028				—
Total		$	3,585			$	—			$	1,028			$	2,557

Summary of Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts and Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts and interest rate cross-currency swap agreements included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

		December 31, 2020								December 31, 2019
		Notional Value				Fair Value				Notional Value				Fair Value
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Other current assets		$	66,690			$	836			$	119,576			$	16
Other current liabilities		$	20,000			$	185			$	29,495			$	1,028
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Other (liabilities) assets		$	560,000			$	(44,996	)		$	560,000			$	4,485
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)						$	44,996							$	(4,485	)

Gains (Losses) on Foreign Exchange Contracts

 The following is a summary of the activity included in the statements of comprehensive income related to the foreign currency exchange contracts (in thousands):

		Financial Statement Classification		Year Ended December 31,
				2020				2019				2018
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Realized gains (losses) on closed contracts		Cost of sales		$	1,444			$	(3,552	)		$	(6,684	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts		Cost of sales			1,663				(1,292	)			(105	)
Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses)		Cost of sales		$	3,107			$	(4,844	)		$	(6,789	)
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:
Interest earned		Interest income		$	15,296			$	11,709			$	2,713
Unrealized  (losses) gains on open contracts		Stockholders’ equity (deficit)		$	(44,996	)		$	4,485			$	1,093

Summary of Activity of Company's Accrued Warranty Liability

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

		Balance at Beginning of Period				Accruals for Warranties				Settlements Made				Balance at End of Period
Accrued warranty liability:
December 31, 2020		$	11,964			$	7,909			$	(8,923	)		$	10,950
December 31, 2019		$	12,300			$	7,540			$	(7,876	)		$	11,964
December 31, 2018		$	13,026			$	5,033			$	(5,759	)		$	12,300

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of financial instruments measured at fair value, including those classified in shareholders' equity measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Disclosures include, but are not limited to, fair value measurements recorded and the reasons for the measurements, level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements are categorized and transfers between levels 1 and 2. Nonrecurring fair value measurements are those that are required or permitted in the statement of financial position in particular circumstances.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19279-110258

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2C
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=SL7498348-110258

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of derivative instruments (including nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments) of (a) the location and amount of gains and losses reported in the statement of financial performance and (b) the location and fair value amounts of the instruments reported in the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121590274&loc=SL5618551-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfDerivativesInstrumentsStatementsOfFinancialPerformanceAndFinancialPositionLocationTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the presentation of foreign exchange contracts on the statement of financial position, including the fair value amounts and location of such amounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121590274&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfForeignExchangeContractsStatementOfFinancialPositionTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the changes in the guarantor's aggregate product warranty liability, including the beginning balance of the aggregate product warranty liability, the aggregate reductions in that liability for payments made (in cash or in kind) under the warranty, the aggregate changes in the liability for accruals related to product warranties issued during the reporting period, the aggregate changes in the liability for accruals related to preexisting warranties (including adjustments related to changes in estimates), and the ending balance of the aggregate product warranty liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfProductWarrantyLiabilityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns roll forward.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wat_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturnsRollForwardTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	wat_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration