MQS Management LLC Raises Position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

MQS Management LLC lifted its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 37.3% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,236 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 879 shares during the period. MQS Management LLC’s holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $593,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mirova US LLC boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 2.2% during the second quarter. Mirova US LLC now owns 715,674 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $131,233,000 after buying an additional 15,462 shares during the period. Congress Asset Management Co. MA bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $125,904,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Watts Water Technologies by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 587,538 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $107,738,000 after purchasing an additional 6,742 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 7.0% in the fourth quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 447,955 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $93,327,000 after purchasing an additional 29,468 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 0.3% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 338,378 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $71,924,000 after buying an additional 1,049 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE WTS opened at $200.05 on Thursday. 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 capitalization of $6.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.82, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $193.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $197.63. 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 issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.33 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $597.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $589.55 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 12.44%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.34 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is 21.34%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on WTS. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $217.00 to $202.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $225.00 to $199.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Watts Water Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 16th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Watts Water Technologies

In other news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total value of $58,567.95. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 2,755 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $512,237.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, 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 dated 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $512,237.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

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.