Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. Decreases Stock Holdings in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. reduced its holdings in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 17.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 113,045 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 24,128 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.34% of Watts Water Technologies worth $20,729,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,013 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $419,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its position in Watts Water Technologies by 4.2% in 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 position 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 last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake 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 valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. Finally, Retirement Systems of Alabama increased its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 34,367 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $7,305,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the period. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE WTS opened at $192.44 on Friday. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $167.87 and a 1-year high of $219.52. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $191.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $197.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 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 released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.33 by $0.13. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.44% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The business had revenue of $597.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $589.55 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.34 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total transaction 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 filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total transaction of $316,623.60. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,132,302.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $512,237.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WTS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus dropped 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 research note on Friday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective 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. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Watts Water Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 16th.

Watts Water Technologies Company 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.