Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) Shares Acquired by Entropy Technologies LP

Entropy Technologies LP raised its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA - Free Report) by 173.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,949 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 17,091 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Mueller Water Products were worth $606,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Mueller Water Products by 369.1% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 98,457 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,137,000 after purchasing an additional 77,467 shares during the period. Barclays PLC grew its position in Mueller Water Products by 361.6% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 266,155 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $5,775,000 after acquiring an additional 208,502 shares in the last quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. lifted its stake in Mueller Water Products by 19.8% in the third quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. now owns 390,199 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $8,467,000 after purchasing an additional 64,399 shares during the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new stake in Mueller Water Products in the third quarter worth about $451,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in Mueller Water Products by 28.9% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 347,199 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $7,534,000 after purchasing an additional 77,772 shares during the last quarter. 91.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Todd P. Helms sold 3,556 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.02, for a total value of $88,971.12. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 38,683 shares of the company's stock, valued at $967,848.66. This trade represents a 8.42 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Suzanne G. Smith sold 26,138 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.99, for a total transaction of $653,188.62. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 9,378 shares in the company, valued at approximately $234,356.22. This trade represents a 73.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 98,433 shares of company stock valued at $2,494,144. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on MWA shares. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $27.00 price target (up previously from $26.00) on shares of Mueller Water Products in a research note on Friday, November 8th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Mueller Water Products from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Mueller Water Products from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Mueller Water Products from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $25.80.

Mueller Water Products Stock Performance

Shares of MWA traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $26.81. 1,470,506 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,532,424. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a quick ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Mueller Water Products, Inc. has a 12-month low of $14.81 and a 12-month high of $28.25. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $23.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.63.

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.06. Mueller Water Products had a net margin of 10.05% and a return on equity of 21.18%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.13 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Mueller Water Products, Inc. will post 1.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mueller Water Products Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $0.067 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $0.27 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.00%. Mueller Water Products's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.40%.

Mueller Water Products Company Profile

Mueller Water Products, Inc manufactures and markets products and services for the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water used by municipalities, and the residential and non-residential construction industries in the United States, Israel, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions.