Acadian Asset Management LLC Acquires 1,601 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 25.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,941 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,601 shares during the quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $1,453,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WTS. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Gradient Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 502.7% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 223 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 520.5% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 273 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $53,000. 95.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of Watts Water Technologies stock opened at $194.51 on Monday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $192.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $197.73. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $167.87 and a 1 year high of $219.52. The company has a market capitalization of $6.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 2.50 and a quick ratio of 1.49.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $589.55 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.34 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total transaction of $316,623.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 11,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,132,302.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 owns 11,516 shares in the company, valued at $2,132,302.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total value 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. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on WTS shares. StockNews.com raised Watts Water Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 16th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $225.00 to $199.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $217.00 to $202.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 9th.

About Watts Water Technologies

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.