Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Shares Sold by Natixis

Natixis lessened its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 12.8% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 66,776 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 9,799 shares during the quarter. Natixis’ holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $13,576,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of WTS. Boston Partners raised its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 7.6% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 632,155 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $128,527,000 after buying an additional 44,465 shares in the last quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 85.1% in the 4th quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 422,026 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $85,798,000 after purchasing an additional 194,033 shares during the period. KBC Group NV lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 323,007 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $65,667,000 after acquiring an additional 19,598 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 319,703 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $64,996,000 after buying an additional 3,296 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $60,887,000. 95.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

WTS stock opened at $197.32 on Friday. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $175.37 and a twelve month high of $232.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a market cap of $6.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.95. The business’s fifty day moving average is $206.41 and its 200-day moving average is $207.04.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.14. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 18.08% and a net margin of 12.93%. Equities research analysts forecast that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.87%. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 19.79%.

Insider Activity at Watts Water Technologies

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.53, for a total value of $925,700.41. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,469 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,204,038.57. The trade was a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Stifel Nicolaus raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $219.00 to $229.00 in a report on Wednesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Watts Water Technologies currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $222.00.

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.