Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Shares Bought by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 89.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 61,968 shares of the technology company's stock after purchasing an additional 29,332 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned about 0.19% of Watts Water Technologies worth $12,839,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Andina Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 3.3% during the third quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the technology company's stock worth $342,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,496 shares of the technology company's stock worth $517,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,238 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $1,085,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC increased its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 3.8% during the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 2,043 shares of the technology company's stock worth $423,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banco Santander S.A. lifted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 1.2% in the second quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 6,424 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $1,178,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Watts Water Technologies

In other Watts Water Technologies news, insider Monica Barry sold 1,559 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.52, for a total transaction of $331,318.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,430 shares in the company, valued at approximately $941,463.60. The trade was a 26.03 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Kenneth Robert Lepage sold 3,429 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.65, for a total transaction of $667,454.85. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 14,064 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,737,557.60. This trade represents a 19.60 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 32,974 shares of company stock worth $6,924,594. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WTS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Northcoast Research upgraded shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $225.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $225.00 to $199.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $217.00 to $202.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $200.25.

Watts Water Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WTS traded down $2.95 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $211.97. 26,827 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 144,723. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $175.37 and a 52-week high of $221.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 2.55 and a quick ratio of 1.55. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $206.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $197.68. The company has a market cap of $7.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.42, a PEG ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.92.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The technology company reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $541.83 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.04 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.75 EPS 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 20.62%.

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.