Teacher Retirement System of Texas Buys 7,900 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 24.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 39,766 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 7,900 shares during the quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas owned 0.12% of Watts Water Technologies worth $8,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 29.5% during the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 1,592 shares of the technology company's stock worth $330,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the period. King Luther Capital Management Corp raised its position in Watts Water Technologies by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 18,816 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $3,898,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. grew its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 28.2% in the 3rd quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 96,428 shares of the technology company's stock worth $19,979,000 after buying an additional 21,214 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,068,000. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $302,000. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Watts Water Technologies Stock Down 1.2 %

NYSE:WTS traded down $2.57 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $209.73. 151,423 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 153,585. The company has a market cap of $6.99 billion, a PE ratio of 24.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 2.59 and a quick ratio of 1.65. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $175.37 and a one year high of $232.60. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $211.56 and a 200 day moving average price of $207.80.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.14. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 18.08% and a net margin of 12.93%. Equities analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.79%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on WTS. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They set a "hold" rating and a $240.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $220.00.

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.