Triodos Investment Management BV Purchases 7,000 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Triodos Investment Management BV boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 9.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 83,000 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 7,000 shares during the period. Triodos Investment Management BV owned approximately 0.25% of Watts Water Technologies worth $16,874,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $60,887,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $23,044,000. Erste Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $10,792,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $9,773,000. Finally, Boston Partners lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 7.6% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 632,155 shares of the technology company's stock worth $128,527,000 after purchasing an additional 44,465 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 95.02% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.53, for a total transaction of $925,700.41. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,469 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,204,038.57. The trade was a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on WTS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Watts Water Technologies in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They set a "hold" rating and a $240.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report 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 presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $220.00.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of WTS traded up $1.12 on Tuesday, reaching $205.04. The company's stock had a trading volume of 24,467 shares, compared to its average volume of 161,469. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $175.37 and a twelve month high of $232.60. The company has a current ratio of 2.59, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $211.46 and a 200-day moving average of $208.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.83 billion, a PE ratio of 23.69, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.93.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. Equities analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.79%.

Watts Water Technologies Company 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.