Stifel Nicolaus Increases Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) Price Target to $209.00

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) had its target price lifted by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $206.00 to $209.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “hold” rating on the technology company’s stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ price target suggests a potential upside of 4.69% from the stock’s previous close.

Separately, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $191.20.

Watts Water Technologies Price Performance

Shares of WTS stock opened at $199.63 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $204.09 and its 200-day moving average is $196.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 2.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.65 billion, a PE ratio of 25.53, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.94. Watts Water Technologies has a 52 week low of $156.29 and a 52 week high of $219.52.

Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $1.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $547.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $532.58 million. Watts Water Technologies had a return on equity of 19.38% and a net margin of 12.75%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.60 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Watts Water Technologies will post 8.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Watts Water Technologies

In other Watts Water Technologies news, CAO Virginia A. Halloran sold 1,520 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.11, for a total value of $307,207.20. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 14,818 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,994,865.98. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CAO Virginia A. Halloran sold 1,520 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.11, for a total transaction of $307,207.20. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 14,818 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,994,865.98. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 329 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.91, for a total value of $65,112.39. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 2,392 shares in the company, valued at approximately $473,400.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 5,113 shares of company stock valued at $1,023,106. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Watts Water Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WTS. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 12.9% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,237 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $591,000 after purchasing an additional 483 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its position in Watts Water Technologies by 41.6% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 881 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $123,000 after buying an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in Watts Water Technologies by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 79,951 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $11,160,000 after buying an additional 10,288 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. acquired a new stake in Watts Water Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,395,000. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC acquired a new stake in Watts Water Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $14,626,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.02% of the company’s stock.

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.