Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) have been given a consensus rating of “Hold” by the five brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $220.00.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on WTS. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $240.00 target price on the stock. Northcoast Research upgraded Watts Water Technologies from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $225.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Down 1.7 %

WTS stock traded down $3.88 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $220.80. 128,992 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 168,486. The stock has a market cap of $7.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.47, a P/E/G ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Watts Water Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $175.37 and a fifty-two week high of $232.60. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $208.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $203.29.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.14. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 18.49% and a net margin of 12.37%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies will post 8.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is 20.62%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Watts Water Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WTS. Andina Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 3.3% in the third quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System increased its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,950 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,616,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased 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 valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 2.5% in the third quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,496 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $517,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC increased 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 valued at $336,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

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.