Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Shares Purchased by LPL Financial LLC

LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 20.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,459 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 1,277 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC's holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $1,517,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 660.3% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 555 shares of the technology company's stock worth $113,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 45.2% during the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 565 shares of the technology company's stock worth $115,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $205,000. Finally, PFW Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $233,000. 95.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.53, for a total value of $925,700.41. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 10,469 shares in the company, valued at $2,204,038.57. This represents a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on WTS shares. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $219.00 to $229.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price 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 equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $222.00.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Up 3.0 %

Shares of NYSE WTS traded up $6.10 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $210.29. 20,319 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 167,829. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a current ratio of 2.59. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $175.37 and a 52-week high of $232.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.20, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.95. The company's 50-day moving average is $205.56 and its 200-day moving average is $206.97.

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

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Watts Water Technologies's payout ratio is 19.79%.

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.