Impax Asset Management Group plc Sells 233,702 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Impax Asset Management Group plc decreased its holdings in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 15.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,258,274 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 233,702 shares during the quarter. Watts Water Technologies makes up 1.2% of Impax Asset Management Group plc's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Impax Asset Management Group plc owned approximately 3.78% of Watts Water Technologies worth $255,117,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 155 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 24.4% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 392 shares of the technology company's stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 99.3% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 544 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $113,000 after acquiring an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Watts Water Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $205,000. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP bought a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $231,000. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on WTS shares. Northcoast Research raised Watts Water Technologies from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $225.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They set a "hold" rating and a $240.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $220.00.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WTS traded down $0.74 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $212.56. 114,970 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 170,978. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $208.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $204.72. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $7.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.93. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.14. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.93% and a return on equity of 18.08%. Analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend 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.