Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Shares Sold by Texas Permanent School Fund Corp

Texas Permanent School Fund Corp trimmed its position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 14.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,483 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 3,469 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp owned 0.06% of Watts Water Technologies worth $3,756,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Perpetual Ltd grew its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 9.5% in the first quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 46,721 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $9,931,000 after purchasing an additional 4,068 shares in the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies in the first quarter worth about $1,366,000. Norden Group LLC lifted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 1,826.3% in the first quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 59,310 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $12,606,000 after acquiring an additional 56,231 shares during the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies in the fourth quarter worth about $125,904,000. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise lifted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 1,968.3% in the first quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 4,509 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $958,000 after acquiring an additional 4,291 shares during the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

WTS opened at $194.51 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $192.12 and its 200-day moving average is $197.74. The stock has a market cap of $6.49 billion, a PE ratio of 24.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a current ratio of 2.50, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $167.87 and a twelve month high of $219.52.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 earnings per share 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 company had revenue of $597.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $589.55 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.34 earnings per share. The business’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 year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is 21.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related 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 sale, the director now owns 2,755 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $512,237.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Watts Water Technologies news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total value of $316,623.60. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 11,516 shares in the company, valued at $2,132,302.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of Watts Water Technologies 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 completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,755 shares in the company, valued at approximately $512,237.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Watts Water Technologies 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.