Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Makes New Investment in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 1,026 shares of the technology company's stock, valued at approximately $209,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Arizona State Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,950 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $1,616,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Andina Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 1,708 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $347,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 155 shares of the technology company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 12,410 shares of the technology company's stock worth $2,541,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 1,652 shares of the technology company's stock worth $336,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. 95.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 $2,204,038.57. This represents a 29.58% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Shashank Patel sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 2,754 shares of the company's stock, valued at $674,730. The trade was a 74.39% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 13,165 shares of company stock valued at $3,074,168 in the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WTS has been the topic 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. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised 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 report on Wednesday, April 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Watts Water Technologies 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 $0.69 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $238.71. 137,240 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 175,601. The company has a market cap of $7.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.47, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a current ratio of 2.59. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $175.37 and a one year high of $248.17. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $211.00 and a 200 day moving average of $210.49.

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

Watts Water Technologies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. This is a positive change from Watts Water Technologies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 23.83%.

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.