Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) Price Target Increased to $209.00 by Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Free Report) had its target price boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from $206.00 to $209.00 in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a hold rating on the technology company's stock.

Separately, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $191.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Watts Water Technologies has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $191.20.

Watts Water Technologies Trading Down 1.1 %

NYSE:WTS traded down $2.16 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $198.11. 107,279 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 120,531. Watts Water Technologies has a twelve month low of $156.29 and a twelve month high of $219.52. The business has a 50-day moving average of $204.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $196.66. The company has a market capitalization of $6.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.40, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 2.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $1.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $547.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $532.58 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 19.38% and a net margin of 12.75%. Watts Water Technologies's revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.60 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies will post 8.52 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. Watts Water Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 18.41%.

Insider Activity at Watts Water Technologies

In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 2,500 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.50, for a total transaction of $498,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,564 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,706,018. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Elie Melhem sold 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $199.50, for a total transaction of $498,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 13,564 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,706,018. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Virginia A. Halloran sold 1,520 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.11, for a total value of $307,207.20. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 14,818 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,994,865.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 5,113 shares of company stock valued at $1,023,106 over the last 90 days. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wallace Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in Watts Water Technologies in the first quarter valued at $203,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 4.2% during the first quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 1,645 shares of the technology company's stock worth $350,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 1,968.3% in the 1st quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 4,509 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $958,000 after purchasing an additional 4,291 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd boosted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 9.5% in the 1st quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 46,721 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $9,931,000 after purchasing an additional 4,068 shares during the period. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Watts Water Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. 95.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.