Natixis Sells 9,799 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Natixis lessened its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 12.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 66,776 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 9,799 shares during the quarter. Natixis owned 0.20% of Watts Water Technologies worth $13,576,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WTS. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 0.7% in the fourth 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 during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 155 shares of the technology company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 1,708 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $347,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 0.5% during the 4th 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 1,652 shares of the technology company's stock worth $336,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.02% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.53, for a total transaction of $925,700.41. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,469 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,204,038.57. The trade was a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

Watts Water Technologies stock traded up $4.93 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $209.53. 293,191 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 169,384. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $175.37 and a 12-month high of $232.60. The business's 50-day moving average is $205.37 and its 200-day moving average is $206.95. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $6.98 billion, a PE ratio of 24.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.95.

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 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

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