Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Shares Purchased by MetLife Investment Management LLC

MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 31,504 shares of the technology company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,356 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC owned about 0.09% of Watts Water Technologies worth $6,405,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% during the fourth 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. Headlands Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 329.1% during the fourth quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 236 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank increased its position in Watts Water Technologies by 60.5% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 366 shares of the technology company's stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 660.3% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 555 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $113,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 45.2% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 565 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies

In related news, insider Elie Melhem sold 4,397 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the insider now 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 legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of WTS stock traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $206.98. 25,273 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 168,697. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $205.06 and a 200 day moving average of $207.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $175.37 and a 1 year high of $232.60. The firm has a market cap of $6.90 billion, a PE ratio of 23.89, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.95.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.14. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.93% and a return on equity of 18.08%. Analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 19.79%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on WTS. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Stifel Nicolaus raised shares of Watts Water Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $219.00 to $229.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Watts Water Technologies currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $222.00.

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.