Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) Sees Large Decrease in Short Interest

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 727,600 shares, a decrease of 12.1% from the January 31st total of 828,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 168,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.3 days. Currently, 2.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on WTS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $240.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $218.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $220.00.

Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of WTS stock traded up $1.85 during trading on Friday, reaching $213.52. 46,764 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 168,342. The company has a market capitalization of $7.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.60, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.93. 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 firm’s 50-day moving average is $208.86 and its 200 day moving average is $205.73. Watts Water Technologies has a 1 year low of $175.37 and a 1 year high of $232.60.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The technology company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. Equities research analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.81%. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 19.79%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 59.8% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 155 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC lifted its position in 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 purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 60.5% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 366 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 660.3% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 555 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $113,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in Watts Water Technologies by 45.2% in the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 565 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $115,000 after buying an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. 95.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.