Watts Water Technologies, Inc. $WTS Holdings Increased by Handelsbanken Fonder AB

Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 232.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 31,728 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 22,184 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned 0.10% of Watts Water Technologies worth $8,861,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 10.2% during the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 1,887 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $385,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 80.2% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,000 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $222,000 after purchasing an additional 445 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 8.3% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 98,878 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $20,163,000 after purchasing an additional 7,537 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth $219,000. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 69.5% in the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 517 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 212 shares during the period. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Virginia A. Halloran sold 605 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.78, for a total value of $167,451.90. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 13,412 shares in the company, valued at $3,712,173.36. This represents a 4.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Robert J. Pagano, Jr. sold 16,066 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $327.31, for a total transaction of $5,258,562.46. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 191,202 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $62,582,326.62. This represents a 7.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 29,196 shares of company stock worth $9,514,741 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Watts Water Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WTS opened at $329.04 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $302.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $285.58. The company has a market cap of $10.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 1.23. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $177.59 and a 12-month high of $345.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The technology company reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.36 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $625.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $610.40 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 13.98%.Watts Water Technologies’s revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.05 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is 20.45%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $288.00 to $337.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $300.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Zacks Research raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a report on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $334.11.

Watts Water Technologies Profile

Watts Water Technologies, Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of flow control products and solutions designed to ensure the safe, efficient delivery and use of water. Founded in 1874 and headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, the company has built a reputation for engineering innovation in residential, commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, cooling and water treatment systems. Watts operates through a comprehensive portfolio of brands and product lines that address application-specific requirements in water safety, pressure regulation, flow control and filtration.

The company’s product offerings span backflow preventers, pressure reducing valves, relief valves and steam traps, as well as hydronic balancing and temperature control devices for heating systems.