113,348 Shares in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Acquired by Raymond James Financial Inc.

Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 113,348 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $23,044,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. owned approximately 0.34% of Watts Water Technologies at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,950 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $1,616,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in Watts Water Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $245,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Watts Water Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,554,000. M&T Bank Corp increased its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 12.9% in the 4th quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 2,566 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $522,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Investments Inc increased its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 25.2% in the 4th quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 7,979 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $1,622,000 after acquiring an additional 1,605 shares in the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Watts Water Technologies

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 sale, the insider now owns 10,469 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,204,038.57. This represents a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on WTS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $240.00 price target for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $220.00.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 2.3 %

NYSE WTS opened at $211.23 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a current ratio of 2.59. The company has a market capitalization of $7.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.93. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $175.37 and a one year high of $232.60. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $209.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $206.78.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 0.81%. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 19.79%.

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.