Xponance Inc. Grows Stock Position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Xponance Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) by 10.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,085 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the period. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $830,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Watts Water Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $23,044,000. Erste Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the third quarter worth $10,792,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Watts Water Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $9,773,000. Boston Partners boosted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 7.6% in 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Retirement Systems of Alabama raised its position in Watts Water Technologies by 122.9% during the 4th quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 74,194 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $15,084,000 after buying an additional 40,912 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling 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 transaction of $925,700.41. Following the completion of the sale, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 2.8 %

Watts Water Technologies stock opened at $212.69 on Tuesday. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $175.37 and a 12 month high of $232.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.09 billion, a PE ratio of 24.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 2.59 and a quick ratio of 1.65. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $211.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $207.61.

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

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.79%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on WTS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $240.00 target price for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $220.00.

About Watts Water Technologies

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.