Graham Capital Management L.P. Has $1.86 Million Stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. $WTS

Key Points

• Graham Capital Management L.P. significantly increased its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 364.1% during the first quarter, owning 9,125 shares valued at approximately $1.86 million.
• Major institutional investors, including Kayne Anderson Rudnick and Boston Partners, have also increased their investments in Watts Water Technologies, indicating strong institutional interest in the stock.
• Watts Water Technologies reported strong earnings in August, with an EPS of $3.09, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.68 and showing a revenue increase of 7.8% year-over-year.

Graham Capital Management L.P. grew its position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 364.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,125 shares of the technology company's stock after acquiring an additional 7,159 shares during the period. Graham Capital Management L.P.'s holdings in Watts Water Technologies were worth $1,861,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vident Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the first quarter valued at about $2,546,000. Trexquant Investment LP increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 746.3% in the first quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 31,905 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $6,506,000 after buying an additional 28,135 shares during the period. Eisler Capital Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the first quarter valued at about $250,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec acquired a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies in the first quarter valued at about $2,590,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 210.6% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 57,901 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $11,807,000 after buying an additional 39,260 shares during the period. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WTS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Northcoast Research cut Watts Water Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a report on Friday, August 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Watts Water Technologies from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $245.50.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 0.1%

NYSE:WTS traded up $0.38 on Friday, hitting $280.09. The stock had a trading volume of 151,955 shares, compared to its average volume of 181,313. The business's fifty day moving average is $263.63 and its 200 day moving average is $234.93. The company has a market cap of $9.34 billion, a PE ratio of 30.12, a P/E/G ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $177.59 and a 52 week high of $285.90.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The technology company reported $3.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $643.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $612.15 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 18.11% and a net margin of 13.63%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.46 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 22.37%.

Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies

In other Watts Water Technologies news, Director Joseph T. Noonan sold 713 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.45, for a total transaction of $195,682.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 1,194 shares in the company, valued at approximately $327,693.30. The trade was a 37.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.00% 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.