Woodline Partners LP Has $4.32 Million Stock Position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Woodline Partners LP reduced its stake in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 33.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,228 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 10,887 shares during the quarter. Woodline Partners LP owned 0.06% of Watts Water Technologies worth $4,316,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,950 shares of the technology company's stock worth $1,616,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 1,708 shares of the technology company's stock worth $347,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 155 shares of the technology company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 12,410 shares of the technology company's stock worth $2,541,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in Watts Water Technologies by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 1,652 shares of the technology company's stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Northcoast Research lowered shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the company from $219.00 to $229.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $222.00.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WTS traded up $6.84 on Tuesday, reaching $244.13. 148,027 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 175,568. The company has a fifty day moving average of $211.97 and a 200-day moving average of $210.96. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $175.37 and a twelve month high of $248.17. 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 company has a market capitalization of $8.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.09, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.08.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The technology company reported $2.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.12 by $0.25. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.93% and a return on equity of 18.08%. The company had revenue of $558.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $547.58 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.33 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This is an increase from Watts Water Technologies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio is 23.83%.

Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the company'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 approximately $2,204,038.57. This represents a 29.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Shashank Patel sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.00, for a total transaction of $1,960,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 2,754 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $674,730. The trade was a 74.39% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 13,165 shares of company stock valued at $3,074,168. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

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.