Millennium Management LLC Purchases 191,146 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 1,070.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 209,000 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 191,146 shares during the quarter. Millennium Management LLC owned approximately 0.63% of Watts Water Technologies worth $38,324,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 32.3% in the fourth quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 36,660 shares of the technology company's stock worth $7,638,000 after purchasing an additional 8,942 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 7.1% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,160 shares of the technology company's stock worth $658,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 27.8% in the fourth quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 50,655 shares of the technology company's stock worth $10,553,000 after purchasing an additional 11,004 shares in the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 350.7% in the fourth quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 6,639 shares of the technology company's stock worth $1,383,000 after purchasing an additional 5,166 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Carmignac Gestion lifted its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 15.2% during the fourth quarter. Carmignac Gestion now owns 13,261 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $2,763,000 after acquiring an additional 1,752 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.02% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Watts Water Technologies news, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total value of $316,623.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,516 shares in the company, valued at $2,132,302.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total transaction of $58,567.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,755 shares in the company, valued at $512,237.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Elie Melhem sold 1,710 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.16, for a total transaction of $316,623.60. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 11,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,132,302.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $217.00 to $202.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $225.00 to $199.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE WTS opened at $206.03 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $195.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $197.74. The company has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 25.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a current ratio of 2.50, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $167.87 and a 12 month high of $219.52.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $597.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $589.55 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 12.44%. The firm's revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.34 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.34%.

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.