Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC Buys 11,955 Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 7.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 168,329 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 11,955 shares during the quarter. Watts Water Technologies accounts for about 1.6% of Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC owned about 0.51% of Watts Water Technologies worth $34,221,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 316,407 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $65,556,000 after purchasing an additional 9,148 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 40.0% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 17,382 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $3,484,000 after purchasing an additional 4,967 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 267,439 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $55,411,000 after purchasing an additional 12,159 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 977,000 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $202,425,000 after purchasing an additional 8,314 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 264.1% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 6,080 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $1,236,000 after purchasing an additional 4,410 shares during the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Down 1.7 %

NYSE WTS traded down $3.76 on Wednesday, hitting $220.91. The company's stock had a trading volume of 338,781 shares, compared to its average volume of 176,299. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $175.37 and a 1-year high of $232.60. The company's 50-day moving average is $208.15 and its 200 day moving average is $203.29. The firm has a market cap of $7.36 billion, a PE ratio of 26.49, a PEG ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 0.93.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.14. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.37% and a return on equity of 18.49%. As a group, analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.62%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday. Northcoast Research raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $225.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They set a "hold" rating and a $240.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently 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.