American Century Companies Inc. Increases Stock Position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,030 shares of the technology company’s stock after purchasing an additional 287 shares during the quarter. American Century Companies Inc.’s holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $1,839,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 1,645 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $350,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 1.2% during the second quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 6,424 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $1,178,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 30.0% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 338 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 0.3% in the first quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 34,367 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $7,305,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the period. Finally, State of Michigan Retirement System increased its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 1.5% in the first quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 6,695 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,423,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

Watts Water Technologies stock opened at $207.51 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.50. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $195.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $197.77. The company has a market capitalization of $6.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.75, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.89. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $167.87 and a fifty-two week high of $219.52.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $597.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.34 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend 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%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the business’s 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 SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,132,302.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the company’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 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 $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.