Impax Asset Management Group plc Trims Stock Holdings in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Impax Asset Management Group plc trimmed its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 3.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,491,976 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 47,744 shares during the quarter. Watts Water Technologies makes up 1.2% of Impax Asset Management Group plc's portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Impax Asset Management Group plc owned 4.47% of Watts Water Technologies worth $308,440,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Boston Trust Walden Corp increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 60.3% in the third quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 520,189 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $107,778,000 after purchasing an additional 195,778 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 1,070.6% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 209,000 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $38,324,000 after purchasing an additional 191,146 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 171.7% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 139,100 shares of the technology company's stock worth $25,507,000 after acquiring an additional 87,900 shares in the last quarter. Natixis boosted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 20,322.5% during the first quarter. Natixis now owns 61,676 shares of the technology company's stock worth $13,109,000 after purchasing an additional 61,374 shares during the period. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at $9,794,000. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 2.3 %

WTS stock traded up $4.45 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $200.11. 119,731 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 145,033. The firm's 50-day moving average is $200.24 and its 200-day moving average is $197.12. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $175.37 and a 12 month high of $219.52. The company has a market cap of $6.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.99, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 2.55 and a quick ratio of 1.55.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The technology company reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.99 by $0.04. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.37% and a return on equity of 18.49%. The firm had revenue of $543.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $541.83 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.04 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.86%. Watts Water Technologies's payout ratio is 20.62%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WTS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $225.00 to $199.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. StockNews.com raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of 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. Finally, Northcoast Research upgraded Watts Water Technologies from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $225.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $200.25.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Watts Water Technologies news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 15th. The stock was 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $512,237.15. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 315 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.93, for a total value of $58,567.95. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,755 shares of the company's stock, valued at $512,237.15. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Kenneth Robert Lepage sold 3,429 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.65, for a total transaction of $667,454.85. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 14,064 shares in the company, valued at $2,737,557.60. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 5,454 shares of company stock worth $1,042,646. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Watts Water Technologies 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.