Bank of Montreal Can Buys 22,941 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 768.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,925 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 22,941 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned approximately 0.08% of Watts Water Technologies worth $4,872,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WTS. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the first quarter worth about $26,000. Gradient Investments LLC bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 502.7% during the first quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 223 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 520.5% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 273 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the first quarter worth about $53,000. Institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of Watts Water Technologies stock opened at $206.03 on Wednesday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $195.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $197.74. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $167.87 and a 52-week high of $219.52. The firm has a market cap of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 25.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.50.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.13. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 12.44%. The business had revenue of $597.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $589.55 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.34 EPS. Watts Water Technologies’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.34%.

Insider Activity at Watts Water Technologies

In other Watts Water Technologies news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total transaction of $58,567.95. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,755 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $512,237.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Watts Water Technologies news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total transaction of $58,567.95. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,755 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $512,237.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total value of $316,623.60. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,132,302.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on WTS. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $217.00 to $202.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $225.00 to $199.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Watts Water Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th.

Watts Water Technologies Company Profile

Watts Water Technologies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies products and solutions that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through, and out of buildings in the commercial, industrial, and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.