Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Has $117.76 Million Stock Holdings in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP decreased its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 0.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 579,243 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 2,046 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 1.74% of Watts Water Technologies worth $117,760,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,950 shares of the technology company's stock worth $1,616,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 155 shares of the technology company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 1,708 shares of the technology company's stock worth $347,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC increased its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 12,410 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $2,541,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 1,652 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $336,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.02% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Watts Water Technologies

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the firm's 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 completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,469 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,204,038.57. This trade represents a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Watts Water Technologies Price Performance

WTS stock opened at $206.82 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 business has a 50-day simple moving average of $205.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $207.00. The company has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.95. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $175.37 and a 52-week high of $232.60.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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%. Research analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Watts Water Technologies's payout ratio is 19.79%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on WTS. Stifel Nicolaus raised Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $219.00 to $229.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $222.00.

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.

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