Marshall Wace LLP Takes $2.18 Million Position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 11,865 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,176,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Watts Water Technologies in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Gradient Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the second quarter worth about $31,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 502.7% during the 1st quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 223 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 520.5% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 273 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the period. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new stake in Watts Water Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of WTS stock opened at $204.95 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $6.84 billion, a PE ratio of 25.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.96 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. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $195.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $197.86. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $167.87 and a 1 year high of $219.52.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 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 company had revenue of $597.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $589.55 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.34 earnings per share. Watts Water Technologies’s quarterly revenue was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 21.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Watts Water Technologies

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total transaction of $316,623.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,132,302.56. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of Watts Water Technologies 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 completion of the sale, the insider now owns 11,516 shares in the company, valued at $2,132,302.56. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, 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 shares were sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total transaction of $58,567.95. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 2,755 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $512,237.15. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

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.