Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) Downgraded to Hold Rating by StockNews.com

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Mueller Water Products from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Mueller Water Products from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Mueller Water Products presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $25.80.

Mueller Water Products Stock Up 1.4 %

NYSE MWA traded up $0.32 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $23.15. 766,226 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,577,811. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.62 billion, a PE ratio of 26.79, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a current ratio of 3.83, a quick ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Mueller Water Products has a 12 month low of $14.81 and a 12 month high of $28.58. The company has a 50 day moving average of $25.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $24.09.

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.06. Mueller Water Products had a return on equity of 21.18% and a net margin of 10.05%. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.13 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Mueller Water Products will post 1.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Brian Slobodow sold 11,132 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.73, for a total transaction of $275,294.36. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,376 shares of the company's stock, valued at $182,408.48. The trade was a 60.15 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Lydia W. Thomas sold 17,092 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.77, for a total value of $457,552.84. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 126,689 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,391,464.53. The trade was a 11.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in shares of Mueller Water Products by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 87,308 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,895,000 after purchasing an additional 1,307 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Mueller Water Products by 4.3% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 908,970 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $19,725,000 after buying an additional 37,095 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Mueller Water Products in the third quarter worth approximately $681,000. Point72 DIFC Ltd bought a new position in shares of Mueller Water Products in the third quarter valued at $232,000. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Mueller Water Products by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,931,662 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $85,317,000 after acquiring an additional 12,438 shares during the last quarter. 91.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.