California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS – Free Report) by 12.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 60,311 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,718 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned 0.18% of Watts Water Technologies worth $17,508,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Future Fund LLC raised its position in Watts Water Technologies by 26.1% in the 1st quarter. Future Fund LLC now owns 9,438 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $2,740,000 after purchasing an additional 1,953 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in Watts Water Technologies by 211.3% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 165 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its position in Watts Water Technologies by 12.0% during the 1st quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 13,134 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $3,813,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404 shares during the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt grew its position in Watts Water Technologies by 20,071.4% during the 1st quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 141,200 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $40,989,000 after purchasing an additional 140,500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nwam LLC acquired a new position in Watts Water Technologies in the first quarter valued at $206,000. 95.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $323.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Barclays raised Watts Water Technologies from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $317.00 to $414.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Watts Water Technologies from $275.00 to $320.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Weiss Ratings downgraded Watts Water Technologies from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $330.00 price objective on Watts Water Technologies in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $345.30.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Watts Water Technologies
Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance Shares of WTS opened at $342.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a current ratio of 2.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.14. The company’s fifty day moving average is $334.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $314.35. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $249.06 and a 1 year high of $394.54.
Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The technology company reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.72 by $0.32. The company had revenue of $677.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $638.13 million. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 14.32% and a return on equity of 18.92%. The business’s revenue was up 21.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.37 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 12.23 earnings per share for the current year.
Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 1st were given a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 1st. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. Watts Water Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.06%.
Insider Transactions at Watts Water Technologies In other news, Director Michael J. Dubose sold 398 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $309.63, for a total transaction of $123,232.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 1,814 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $561,668.82. This represents a 17.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Elie Melhem sold 2,257 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $301.00, for a total value of $679,357.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 8,963 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,697,863. This trade represents a 20.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Watts Water Technologies Profile (Free Report)
Watts Water Technologies, Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of flow control products and solutions designed to ensure the safe, efficient delivery and use of water. Founded in 1874 and headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, the company has built a reputation for engineering innovation in residential, commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, cooling and water treatment systems. Watts operates through a comprehensive portfolio of brands and product lines that address application-specific requirements in water safety, pressure regulation, flow control and filtration.
The company’s product offerings span backflow preventers, pressure reducing valves, relief valves and steam traps, as well as hydronic balancing and temperature control devices for heating systems.
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« PREVIOUS HEADLINEEnersys $ENS Shares Purchased by California Public Employees Retirement System
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) will report its financial results for the second quarter 2026 in a press release to be issued after market close on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, and has scheduled a conference call and webcast on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss the results and outlook.
This call can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.watts.com. Following the webcast, an archived version of the call will be available at the same address until August 5, 2027.
Watts is pleased to announce that Ray Nash has joined the company as Vice President, Investor Relations and FP&A. He will join Robert J. Pagano, Jr., President and CEO, and Diane McClintock, CFO, on the earnings call.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its family of companies, is a global manufacturer headquartered in the USA that provides one of the broadest plumbing, heating, and water quality product lines in the world. Watts Water companies and brands offer innovative plumbing, heating, and water quality solutions to control the efficiency, safety, and quality of water within commercial, residential, and industrial applications. For more information visit www.watts.com.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Watts Water currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for WTS that show why this maker of valves for plumbing, heating and water needs shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For WTS, shares are up 4.47% over the past week while the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry is flat over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 16.97% compares favorably with the industry's 1.31% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Shares of Watts Water have increased 21.16% over the past quarter, and have gained 44.37% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 13.88% and 21.37%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of WTS's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now WTS is averaging 584,700 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with WTS.
Over the past two months, 4 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost WTS's consensus estimate, increasing from $11.57 to $12.03 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 3 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that WTS is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Watts Water on your short list.
AI infrastructure stocks Watts Water Technologies (WTS) and Solaris Energy Infrastructure (SEI) continue to benefit from the growth of data centers. WTS stock and SEI stock rose near buy points on Tuesday.
Watts Water Technologies makes plumbing systems, valves and drains for the construction industry. Solaris Energy Infrastructure supplies power generators, transformers, switches and breakers for oil and gas companies. It recently revealed a massive contract tied to data centers for an unnamed global technology company.
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Powering and Cooling AI Data Centers Despite different end markets, the companies share a tailwind. Both provide solutions for the same bottleneck: the rapid scaling of the vast computer farms, called data centers, needed to power the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
Solaris' power generators provide "behind the meter" electricity to server racks. This allows data center operators to generate their own reliable electricity, without depending on the power grid.
Once powered up, the AI chips heat up. That's when Watts Water's flow control systems step in to help data centers run cool.
Both companies are taking a modular approach to help data centers scale more quickly.
AI Infrastructure Stocks Near Buy Points Shares of Watts Water Technologies popped 1.7% to 339 in Tuesday's stock market action. The move put WTS stock just 2% below a 345.17 first-stage consolidation buy point. The data center supplier formed the right side of the pattern after robust earnings in May. Shares are up 22% year to date.
Shares of Solaris Energy Infrastructure dipped 2.6% on Tuesday. SEI stock is working on an 81.24 buy point, still 2% below the entry, the MarketSurge charts shows. It consolidated after late-April earnings, and the stock has gained 66% this year.
The relative strength lines for both data-center suppliers are nearing new highs.
Solaris earnings per share grew 114% in the latest quarter and sales 55%, according to MarketSurge. Though robust, that was the slowest pace of sales growth since 2024. Along with earnings, the company reported signing a third long-term power contract, aiming to provide over 600 MW of power capacity to a leading tech firm.
Watts Water grew EPS 28% and sales 21% in the latest quarter. That marked the fourth straight quarter of accelerating sales growth.
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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) – through its subsidiaries, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and providers of plumbing, heating and water quality products and solutions – today announced the release of its 2025 Sustainability report, which highlights the Company’s dedication to environmental, social and governance practices and continued commitment to creating high-performance solutions that promote sustainability and efficiency.
“Since setting our first-generation environmental goals in 2018, we have significantly reduced our water use, emissions and hazardous waste while continuing to grow as a company. That progress gives us confidence as we pursue our next generation of goals and continue challenging ourselves to make an even greater impact in the years ahead,” said Robert J. Pagano, Jr., CEO, President and Chairperson of the Board. “Reflecting on more than a decade of sustainability work, it is rewarding to see how far we have come and the measurable progress our teams have made across the business.”
Key accomplishments highlighted in the report include:
Advanced Watts’ second generation of environmental goals, adopted in 2024, by recommitting to 3% annual intensity reductions and targeting a reduction of 10,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) in primary emissions by 2034 Reduced water intensity by 64% and absolute water consumption by 44% between 2018 and 2025, resulting in a reduction of nearly 100 million liters of water Reduced GHG intensity by 63% and absolute GHG emissions by 43% between 2018 and 2025, resulting in a reduction of nearly 15,000 MTCO2e in Scope 1 & 2 market-based emissions Reduced hazardous waste intensity by 57% and absolute hazardous waste generation by 34% between 2018 and 2025, resulting in a reduction of nearly 700,000 kilograms of hazardous waste In 2025, we completed Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for all products in our BLÜCHER facility and began LCA modeling at five additional manufacturing facilities, building on LCAs already completed for all products produced in our largest facility in Franklin, NH By the end of 2025, we had published 28 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) covering 39 product types and are on track to exceed our goal of publishing 50 EPDs by 2026 In 2025, AERCO, PVI, and the LYNC brands of boilers, water heaters, and heat pumps helped customers avoid more than 115,000 MT of CO2, almost three times the Watts Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for 2025 Employees volunteered more than 10,000 hours as part of the Watts Cares community giving program, more than doubling the number of hours volunteered in 2024 – the program’s inaugural year Provided clean water access to vulnerable communities through the company’s ongoing partnership with Planet Water Foundation, which in 2025 benefited nearly 89,000 people in six different countries Recognized in 2025 for sustainability and workplace achievements including Newsweek World’s Greenest Companies and America’s Most Responsible Companies, TIME America’s Top Green Tech Companies and America’s Best Companies, USA Today America’s Climate Leaders, Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies, Great Place to Work Greater China, Best Workplaces for Women in Greater China and Top Places to Work Massachusetts To download Watts’ 2025 Sustainability Report or learn more about the Company’s sustainability programs, visit http://www.watts.com/our-story/sustainability.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) – through its subsidiaries, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and providers of plumbing, heating and water quality products and solutions – today announced the release of its 2025 Sustainability report, which highlights the Company’s dedication to environmental, social and governance practices and continued commitment to creating high-performance solutions that promote sustainability and efficiency.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260615531859/en/
“Since setting our first-generation environmental goals in 2018, we have significantly reduced our water use, emissions and hazardous waste while continuing to grow as a company. That progress gives us confidence as we pursue our next generation of goals and continue challenging ourselves to make an even greater impact in the years ahead,” said Robert J. Pagano, Jr., CEO, President and Chairperson of the Board. “Reflecting on more than a decade of sustainability work, it is rewarding to see how far we have come and the measurable progress our teams have made across the business.”
Key accomplishments highlighted in the report include:
Advanced Watts’ second generation of environmental goals, adopted in 2024, by recommitting to 3% annual intensity reductions and targeting a reduction of 10,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) in primary emissions by 2034 Reduced water intensity by 64% and absolute water consumption by 44% between 2018 and 2025, resulting in a reduction of nearly 100 million liters of water Reduced GHG intensity by 63% and absolute GHG emissions by 43% between 2018 and 2025, resulting in a reduction of nearly 15,000 MTCO2e in Scope 1 & 2 market-based emissions Reduced hazardous waste intensity by 57% and absolute hazardous waste generation by 34% between 2018 and 2025, resulting in a reduction of nearly 700,000 kilograms of hazardous waste In 2025, we completed Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for all products in our BLÜCHER facility and began LCA modeling at five additional manufacturing facilities, building on LCAs already completed for all products produced in our largest facility in Franklin, NH By the end of 2025, we had published 28 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) covering 39 product types and are on track to exceed our goal of publishing 50 EPDs by 2026 In 2025, AERCO, PVI, and the LYNC brands of boilers, water heaters, and heat pumps helped customers avoid more than 115,000 MT of CO2, almost three times the Watts Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for 2025 Employees volunteered more than 10,000 hours as part of the Watts Cares community giving program, more than doubling the number of hours volunteered in 2024 – the program’s inaugural year Provided clean water access to vulnerable communities through the company’s ongoing partnership with Planet Water Foundation, which in 2025 benefited nearly 89,000 people in six different countries Recognized in 2025 for sustainability and workplace achievements including Newsweek World’s Greenest Companies and America’s Most Responsible Companies, TIME America’s Top Green Tech Companies and America’s Best Companies, USA Today America’s Climate Leaders, Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies, Great Place to Work Greater China, Best Workplaces for Women in Greater China and Top Places to Work Massachusetts To download Watts’ 2025 Sustainability Report or learn more about the Company’s sustainability programs, visit http://www.watts.com/our-story/sustainability.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260615531859/en/
Watts Water (WTS) was a big mover last session on higher-than-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions might not help the stock continue moving higher in the near term.
Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS – Free Report) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 189,909 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,760 shares during the quarter. Watts Water Technologies comprises about 2.2% of Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC owned about 0.57% of Watts Water Technologies worth $52,419,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Boston Partners increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 2.2% in the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 907,336 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $253,211,000 after purchasing an additional 19,247 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 34.4% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 469,508 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $131,124,000 after purchasing an additional 120,090 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 17.5% in the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 326,139 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $90,226,000 after purchasing an additional 48,470 shares during the period. Port Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 1.0% in the third quarter. Port Capital LLC now owns 251,206 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $70,157,000 after purchasing an additional 2,378 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG grew its holdings in Watts Water Technologies by 223.0% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 202,250 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $56,484,000 after buying an additional 139,637 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have issued reports on WTS shares. Zacks Research lowered Watts Water Technologies from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a report on Monday, December 29th. HSBC started coverage on Watts Water Technologies in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. KeyCorp raised their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $340.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Watts Water Technologies from $288.00 to $337.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $331.67.
Read Our Latest Report on Watts Water Technologies
Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, General Counsel Kenneth Robert Lepage sold 5,025 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $321.08, for a total value of $1,613,427.00. Following the sale, the general counsel owned 12,284 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,944,146.72. The trade was a 29.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Robert J. Pagano, Jr. sold 16,066 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $327.31, for a total transaction of $5,258,562.46. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 191,202 shares in the company, valued at approximately $62,582,326.62. The trade was a 7.75% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 29,674 shares of company stock valued at $9,669,838 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.
Watts Water Technologies Stock Performance NYSE WTS opened at $303.42 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $10.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.83, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.27. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $308.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $290.83. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $191.20 and a twelve month high of $345.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10.
Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The technology company reported $2.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $625.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $610.40 million. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 18.55%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.05 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is presently 20.45%.
Watts Water Technologies Company Profile (Free Report)
Watts Water Technologies, Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of flow control products and solutions designed to ensure the safe, efficient delivery and use of water. Founded in 1874 and headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, the company has built a reputation for engineering innovation in residential, commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, cooling and water treatment systems. Watts operates through a comprehensive portfolio of brands and product lines that address application-specific requirements in water safety, pressure regulation, flow control and filtration.
The company’s product offerings span backflow preventers, pressure reducing valves, relief valves and steam traps, as well as hydronic balancing and temperature control devices for heating systems.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Watts Water Technologies
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AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc increased its holdings in shares of Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS – Free Report) by 30.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 70,333 shares of the technology company’s stock after purchasing an additional 16,257 shares during the period. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc owned approximately 0.21% of Watts Water Technologies worth $19,396,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Boston Partners grew its position in Watts Water Technologies by 2.2% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 907,336 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $253,211,000 after buying an additional 19,247 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 34.4% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 469,508 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $131,124,000 after purchasing an additional 120,090 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 17.5% in the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 326,139 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $90,226,000 after purchasing an additional 48,470 shares during the period. Port Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 1.0% in the third quarter. Port Capital LLC now owns 251,206 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $70,157,000 after purchasing an additional 2,378 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG grew its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 223.0% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 202,250 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $56,484,000 after purchasing an additional 139,637 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.02% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently issued reports on WTS shares. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $288.00 to $337.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $300.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Watts Water Technologies from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Watts Water Technologies in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their target price on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $340.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Watts Water Technologies has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $331.67.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Watts Water Technologies
Insider Activity at Watts Water Technologies In other Watts Water Technologies news, insider Elie Melhem sold 379 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.03, for a total transaction of $113,711.37. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 11,592 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,477,947.76. The trade was a 3.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Timothy P. Horne sold 7,500 shares of Watts Water Technologies stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.04, for a total transaction of $2,475,300.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,500 shares in the company, valued at $2,475,300. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 29,674 shares of company stock valued at $9,669,838 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.
Watts Water Technologies Price Performance Shares of WTS stock opened at $301.17 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 1.49. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $305.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $291.48. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $201.21 and a 12 month high of $345.17. The company has a market capitalization of $10.04 billion, a PE ratio of 29.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 1.27.
Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The technology company reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.26. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 18.55%. The company had revenue of $625.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $610.40 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.05 earnings per share. Watts Water Technologies’s quarterly revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 11.62 earnings per share for the current year.
Watts Water Technologies Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Watts Water Technologies’s payout ratio is 20.45%.
About Watts Water Technologies (Free Report)
Watts Water Technologies, Inc is a global manufacturer and distributor of flow control products and solutions designed to ensure the safe, efficient delivery and use of water. Founded in 1874 and headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, the company has built a reputation for engineering innovation in residential, commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, cooling and water treatment systems. Watts operates through a comprehensive portfolio of brands and product lines that address application-specific requirements in water safety, pressure regulation, flow control and filtration.
The company’s product offerings span backflow preventers, pressure reducing valves, relief valves and steam traps, as well as hydronic balancing and temperature control devices for heating systems.
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Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended March 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on May 6, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis maker of valves for plumbing, heating and water needs is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.72 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +14.8%.
Revenues are expected to be $632.09 million, up 13.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.99% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Watts Water?For Watts Water, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.50%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Watts Water will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Watts Water would post earnings of $2.36 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.62, delivering a surprise of +11.02%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Watts Water doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) today declared that the Corporation will pay a quarterly dividend of Sixty-three cents ($0.63) per share on each outstanding share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, said dividend to be paid on June 15, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2026.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its family of companies, is a global manufacturer headquartered in the USA that provides one of the broadest plumbing, heating, and water quality product lines in the world. Watts Water companies and brands offer innovative plumbing, heating, and water quality solutions to control the efficiency, safety, and quality of water within commercial, residential, and industrial applications. For more information visit www.watts.com.
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) – through its subsidiaries, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and providers of plumbing, heating and water quality products and solutions – today announced results for the first quarter of 2026.
Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Pagano Jr. said, “We delivered a strong start to 2026, with organic growth across all regions and record first quarter net sales, operating income, operating margin and EPS. This is a direct result of the strong execution by the Watts team, and I would like to thank our employees who have remained diligent and focused on delivering quality and value to our customers.”
Mr. Pagano continued, “We are actively managing through geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties while advancing our strategic priorities. We continue to invest in higher-growth opportunities, including data centers and digital solutions, and are driving productivity through automation to support efficiency and margin performance through the One Watts Performance System. While we are pleased with our strong performance to start the year, the macro environment remains dynamic. As a result, we are maintaining our full year 2026 outlook. Our proven operating model and execution track record position us well, and supported by a strong balance sheet and solid cash flow generation, we remain focused on disciplined capital allocation and delivering sustainable long-term value.”
A summary of first quarter financial results is as follows:
First Quarter Ended
March 29,
March 30,
(In millions, except per share information)
2026
2025
% Change
Net sales
$
677.3
$
558.0
21
%
Organic sales growth % (1)
12
%
Operating income
$
133.0
$
87.7
52
%
Operating margin %
19.6
%
15.7
%
390
bps
Adjusted operating income (1)
$
135.9
$
106.1
28
%
Adjusted operating margin % (1)
20.1
%
19.0
%
110
bps
Diluted earnings per share
$
2.97
$
2.21
34
%
Special items (1)
0.07
0.16
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (1)
$
3.04
$
2.37
28
%
First Quarter Financial Highlights
First quarter 2026 performance compared to first quarter 2025
Sales of $677 million increased 21% on a reported basis and 12% on an organic basis. Organic sales increased primarily due to favorable price and incremental volume driven by data center growth. Incremental acquisition sales within the Americas and APMEA were $37 million and contributed 7% to reported growth. Favorable foreign exchange increased reported sales by $16 million, or 3%.
Operating margin increased 390 basis points on a reported basis and 110 basis points on an adjusted basis. Operating and adjusted operating margin increased primarily due to favorable price, productivity and volume leverage which more than offset inflation, investments, tariffs and acquisition dilution. Operating margin was favorably impacted by a decrease in restructuring charges, partially offset by higher acquisition-related charges.
Regional Performance
Americas
Sales of $515 million increased 23% on a reported basis and 16% on an organic basis, primarily due to favorable price and incremental volume driven by data center growth. Acquisitions contributed $31 million of incremental sales, or 7%, to reported growth.
Segment margin increased 80 basis points as benefits from price realization, productivity, and volume leverage more than offset inflation, tariffs and acquisition dilution.
Europe
Sales of $121 million increased 12% on a reported basis and 1% on an organic basis. Reported sales growth benefitted from favorable foreign exchange, which increased reported sales by 11%. Organic sales increased primarily from favorable price, which offset a slight decline in volume.
Segment margin decreased 20 basis points as benefits from price realization, productivity, and restructuring actions were more than offset by inflation and volume deleverage.
APMEA
Sales of $41 million increased 29% on a reported basis and 3% on an organic basis, as growth in China, Australia and New Zealand offset a decline in the Middle East. Acquisition sales contributed $6 million, or 19%, and favorable foreign exchange contributed 7% to reported sales growth.
Segment margin increased 120 basis points as trade sales volume leverage, productivity and acquisition accretion more than offset inflation and affiliate volume deleverage.
Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
For the first quarter of 2026, operating cash flow was $18 million and net capital expenditures were $11 million, resulting in free cash flow of $7 million. In the comparable period last year, operating cash flow was $55 million and net capital expenditures were $9 million, resulting in free cash flow of $46 million. Free cash flow declined due to increased capital investments and elevated working capital levels which more than offset higher net income. Working capital increases were due to higher accounts receivable attributable to higher net sales, higher inventory due to incremental tariffs and strategic inventory investments to support expected end-market demand, and higher annual customer rebates due to higher net sales and timing of payments. Sequential increases in free cash flow are expected throughout 2026 as we monetize working capital with the seasonality of the business.
On May 4, 2026, the Company announced a 21% increase in quarterly dividend payments, increasing the quarterly payments from $0.52 per share to $0.63 per share beginning in June 2026.
The Company repurchased approximately 13,000 shares of Class A common stock at a cost of $3.8 million during the first quarter of 2026. Approximately $125 million remains available under the stock repurchase program authorized in 2023. There is no expiration date for this program.
Full Year 2026 Outlook
The Company is maintaining its previous full year outlook. Sales growth is expected to range from up 8% to up 12% on a reported basis and up 2% to up 6% on an organic basis. Full year operating margin is expected to be between 18.8% and 19.4%, or up 40 basis points to up 100 basis points, and adjusted operating margin is expected to be between 19.1% and 19.7%, or down 50 basis points to up 10 basis points. The full year outlook assumes the Middle East conflict is short term and incorporates estimated tariff impacts and actions as of May 6, 2026 but does not include potential tariff refunds.
Further 2026 planning assumptions are included in the first quarter earnings materials posted in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.watts.com.
For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP items and a statement regarding the usefulness of these measures to investors and management in evaluating our operating performance, please see the tables attached to this press release.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will hold a live webcast of its conference call to discuss first quarter 2026 results on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. EST. This press release and the live webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.watts.com. Following the webcast, the call recording will be available at the same address until May 6, 2027.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a world leader in the manufacturing of innovative products to control the efficiency, safety, and quality of water within residential, commercial, and institutional applications. Watts’ expertise in a wide variety of water technologies enables us to be a comprehensive supplier to the water industry.
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to expected full year 2026 financial results, including sales and organic sales growth, operating margin and adjusted operating margin, future dividends, improvements in operating and free cash flow throughout 2026, our strategy, investments, the impact of tariffs and any potential tariff refunds due to invalidation of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the benefits from and integration of recent acquisitions, our ability to manage uncertainty and current market conditions, including the fluid trade environment, our portfolio offerings, long-term growth and shareholder value creation and return of capital to stockholders. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because our actual results may differ materially from those predicted as a result of a number of potential risks and uncertainties. These potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the imposition of or changes to tariff rates and related impacts to our business and the broader market; the effectiveness, timing and expected savings associated with our cost-cutting actions, restructuring and initiatives; integration of acquired businesses in a timely and cost-effective manner, retention of supplier and customer relationships and key employees, and the ability to achieve synergies and cost savings in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated; current economic and financial conditions, which can affect the housing and construction markets where our products are sold, manufactured and marketed; shortages in and pricing of raw materials and supplies; our ability to compete effectively; changes in variable interest rates on our borrowings; inflation; failure to expand our markets through acquisitions; failure to successfully develop and introduce new product offerings or enhancements to existing products; failure to manufacture products that meet required performance and safety standards; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; cyclicality of industries where we market our products, such as plumbing and heating wholesalers and home improvement retailers; environmental compliance costs; product liability risks and costs; changes in the status of current litigation; the impacts and duration of the Middle East conflict, the war in Ukraine and other global crises; supply chain and logistical disruptions or labor shortages and workforce disruptions that could negatively affect our supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, or other business processes; and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and in Note 17 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).We undertake no duty to update the information contained in this press release, except as required by law.
WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in millions, except per share information)
(Unaudited)
First Quarter Ended
March 29,
March 30,
2026
2025
Net sales
$
677.3
$
558.0
Cost of goods sold
351.2
285.5
GROSS PROFIT
326.1
272.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses
192.9
167.5
Restructuring
0.2
17.3
OPERATING INCOME
133.0
87.7
Other (income) expense:
Interest income
(1.7
)
(2.3
)
Interest expense
2.6
2.7
Other expense, net
0.7
0.4
Total other expense
1.6
0.8
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
131.4
86.9
Provision for income taxes
31.8
12.9
NET INCOME
$
99.6
$
74.0
BASIC EPS
NET INCOME PER SHARE
$
2.97
$
2.21
Weighted average number of shares
33.5
33.5
DILUTED EPS
NET INCOME PER SHARE
$
2.97
$
2.21
Weighted average number of shares
33.5
33.5
Dividends declared per share
$
0.52
$
0.43
WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in millions, except share information)
(Unaudited)
March 29,
December 31,
2026
2025
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
374.7
$
405.5
Trade accounts receivable, less reserve allowances of $15.1 million at March 29, 2026 and
$12.5 million at December 31, 2025
374.4
294.0
Inventories, net:
Raw materials
208.5
190.8
Work in process
28.1
28.5
Finished goods
306.5
305.0
Total Inventories
543.1
524.3
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
55.9
62.3
Total Current Assets
1,348.1
1,286.1
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
781.1
777.1
Accumulated depreciation
(484.7
)
(480.0
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
296.4
297.1
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill
859.6
859.0
Intangible assets, net
286.8
294.6
Deferred income taxes
19.4
17.9
Other, net
129.5
126.5
TOTAL ASSETS
$
2,939.8
$
2,881.2
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable
$
188.9
$
182.2
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
234.2
234.7
Accrued compensation and benefits
72.9
95.5
Total Current Liabilities
496.0
512.4
LONG-TERM DEBT
197.8
197.7
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
42.5
36.5
OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
107.2
106.9
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred Stock, $0.10 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
—
—
Class A common stock, $0.10 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized; 1 vote per share; issued and outstanding, 27,478,641 shares at March 29, 2026 and 27,426,533 shares at December 31, 2025
2.7
2.7
Class B common stock, $0.10 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 10 votes per share; issued and outstanding, 5,916,290 shares at March 29, 2026 and December 31, 2025
0.6
0.6
Additional paid-in capital
728.6
720.6
Retained earnings
1,496.8
1,431.3
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(132.4
)
(127.5
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
2,096.3
2,027.7
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
2,939.8
$
2,881.2
WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
First Quarter Ended
March 29,
March 30,
2026
2025
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
$
99.6
$
74.0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation
9.4
8.8
Amortization of intangibles
6.0
4.9
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements
0.6
—
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets
—
0.1
Stock-based compensation
5.2
2.9
Deferred income tax
4.8
(2.4
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable
(82.0
)
(41.3
)
Inventories
(19.8
)
(18.4
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(3.0
)
(5.9
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(2.9
)
32.5
Net cash provided by operating activities
17.9
55.2
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property, plant and equipment
(11.3
)
(9.6
)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(1.9
)
(70.3
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(13.2
)
(79.9
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments for withholding taxes on vested awards
(12.8
)
(10.9
)
Payments for finance leases and other
(0.7
)
(0.7
)
Payments to repurchase common stock
(3.8
)
(3.9
)
Dividends
(17.5
)
(14.4
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(34.8
)
(29.9
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(0.7
)
4.5
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(30.8
)
(50.1
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
405.5
386.9
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
$
374.7
$
336.8
Segment Earnings and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this press release, segment earnings is our GAAP performance measure used by our chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”) to assess and evaluate segment results. Segment earnings exclude the impact of non-recurring and unusual items, such as restructuring costs and acquisition-related costs. The CODM uses segment earnings for insight into underlying trends comparing past financial performance with current performance by reporting segment on a consistent basis. Segment margin is defined as segment earnings divided by segment revenue.
We refer to non-GAAP financial measures (including adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, organic sales, organic sales growth, free cash flow, cash conversion rate of free cash flow to net income and net debt to capitalization ratio) and provide a reconciliation of those non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding financial measures contained in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe these financial measures enhance the overall understanding of our historical financial performance and give insight into our future prospects. Adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share eliminate certain expenses incurred and benefits recognized in the periods presented that relate primarily to our global restructuring programs, acquisition-related costs and the related income tax impacts on these items and tax adjustment items (with respect to adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share only). Management then utilizes these adjusted financial measures to assess the run rate of the Company’s operations against those of comparable periods. Organic sales and organic sales growth are non-GAAP measures of net sales and net sales growth excluding the impacts of foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestitures from period-over-period comparisons. Management believes reporting organic sales and organic sales growth provides useful information to investors, potential investors and others, and allows for a more complete understanding of underlying sales trends by providing sales and sales growth on a consistent basis. Free cash flow, cash conversion rate of free cash flow to net income, and the net debt to capitalization ratio, which are adjusted to exclude certain cash inflows and outlays, and include only certain balance sheet accounts from the comparable GAAP measures, are an indication of our performance in cash flow generation and also provide an indication of the Company's balance sheet leverage relative to other industrial manufacturing companies. These non-GAAP financial measures are among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for evaluating our cash flow generation and our capitalization structure. In addition, free cash flow is used as a criterion to measure and pay certain compensation-based incentives. For these reasons, management believes these non-GAAP financial measures can be useful to investors, potential investors and others. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
TABLE 1
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
EXCLUDING THE EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS FOR SPECIAL ITEMS
(Amounts in millions, except per share information)
(Unaudited)
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
First Quarter Ended
March 29,
March 30,
2026
2025
Net sales
$
677.3
$
558.0
Operating income
$
133.0
$
87.7
Operating margin %
19.6
%
15.7
%
Adjustments for special items:
Restructuring
$
0.2
$
17.3
Acquisition-related costs
2.7
1.1
Total adjustments for special items
$
2.9
$
18.4
Adjusted operating income
$
135.9
$
106.1
Adjusted operating margin %
20.1
%
19.0
%
Net income
$
99.6
$
74.0
Adjustments for special items - tax effected:
Restructuring
$
0.1
$
13.0
Acquisition-related costs
2.1
0.8
Tax adjustment items
—
(8.3
)
Total adjustments for special items - tax effected
$
2.2
$
5.5
Adjusted net income
$
101.8
$
79.5
Diluted earnings per share
$
2.97
$
2.21
Restructuring
0.01
0.39
Acquisition-related costs
0.06
0.02
Tax adjustment items
—
(0.25
)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
3.04
$
2.37
TABLE 2
SEGMENT INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF SEGMENT EARNINGS TO CONSOLIDATED OPERATING INCOME - GAAP
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
First Quarter Ended
March 29, 2026
March 30, 2025
Americas
Europe
APMEA
Total
Americas
Europe
APMEA
Total
Total segment net sales
$
517.8
127.6
67.8
$
713.2
$
420.3
116.6
56.4
$
593.3
Elimination of intersegment sales
(2.7
)
(6.2
)
(27.0
)
(35.9
)
(2.2
)
(8.2
)
(24.9
)
(35.3
)
Net sales from external customers
$
515.1
121.4
40.8
$
677.3
$
418.1
108.4
31.5
$
558.0
Segment earnings
$
124.5
16.7
7.5
$
148.7
$
97.8
15.1
5.5
$
118.4
Segment margin %
24.2
%
13.7
%
18.7
%
22.0
%
23.4
%
13.9
%
17.5
%
21.2
%
Corporate operating loss
$
(12.8
)
$
(12.3
)
Adjustments for segment special items:
$
(1.7
)
(0.2
)
(1.0
)
$
(2.9
)
$
(1.1
)
(17.2
)
(0.1
)
$
(18.4
)
Operating income
$
133.0
$
87.7
Operating margin %
19.6
%
15.7
%
TABLE 3
SEGMENT INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF NET SALES TO NON-GAAP ORGANIC SALES
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
First Quarter Ended
Americas
Europe
APMEA
Total
Net sales March 29, 2026
$
515.1
$
121.4
$
40.8
$
677.3
Net sales March 30, 2025
$
418.1
$
108.4
$
31.5
$
558.0
Dollar change
$
97.0
$
13.0
$
9.3
$
119.3
Net sales % increase
23.2
%
12.0
%
29.5
%
21.4
%
Foreign exchange impact
(0.3
)
%
(11.5
)
%
(7.4
)
%
(2.9
)
%
Acquisition impact
(7.4
)
%
—
%
(18.7
)
%
(6.6
)
%
Organic sales % increase
15.5
%
0.5
%
3.4
%
11.9
%
TABLE 4
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
First Quarter Ended
March 29,
March 30,
2026
2025
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
17.9
$
55.2
Less: additions to property, plant, and equipment
(11.3
)
(9.6
)
Free cash flow
$
6.6
$
45.6
Net income
$
99.6
$
74.0
Cash conversion rate of free cash flow to net income
6.6
%
61.6
%
TABLE 5
RECONCILIATION OF LONG-TERM DEBT (INCLUDING CURRENT PORTION) TO NET DEBT AND NET DEBT TO CAPITALIZATION RATIO
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
March 29,
December 31,
2026
2025
Current portion of long-term debt
$
—
$
—
Plus: long-term debt, net of current portion
197.8
197.7
Less: cash and cash equivalents
(374.7
)
(405.5
)
Net debt
$
(176.9
)
$
(207.8
)
Net debt
$
(176.9
)
$
(207.8
)
Total stockholders’ equity
2,096.3
2,027.7
Capitalization
$
1,919.4
$
1,819.9
Net debt to capitalization ratio
(9.2
)
%
(11.4
)
%
TABLE 6
2026 FULL YEAR OUTLOOK – RECONCILIATION OF NET SALES GROWTH TO ORGANIC SALES GROWTH AND OPERATING MARGIN TO ADJUSTED OPERATING MARGIN
Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) reported $677.3 million in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 21.4%. EPS of $3.04 for the same period compares to $2.37 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $632.09 million, representing a surprise of +7.15%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +11.65%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.72.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Watts Water performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Geographic Revenue- Americas: $515.1 million compared to the $486.7 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +23.2% year over year.Geographic Revenue- APMEA: $40.8 million compared to the $38.8 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +29.5% year over year.Geographic Revenue- Europe: $121.4 million versus $116.45 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +12% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Watts Water here>>>
Shares of Watts Water have returned +0.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +10.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.04 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.72 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.37 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.65%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of valves for plumbing, heating and water needs would post earnings of $2.36 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.62, delivering a surprise of +11.02%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Watts Water, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, posted revenues of $677.3 million for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.15%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $558 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Watts Water shares have added about 5.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 6%.
What's Next for Watts Water?While Watts Water has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Watts Water was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.29 on $709.21 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $11.57 on $2.69 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - General Industrial is currently in the top 37% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Nordson (NDSN - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended April 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 20.
This maker of adhesives and industrial coatings is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.79 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +15.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Nordson's revenues are expected to be $731 million, up 7% from the year-ago quarter.
Key Takeaways WTS Q1 adjusted EPS jumped to $3.04 as sales rose 21% year over year to a record $677.3M.Watts Water saw strong organic growth across regions, led by pricing and data center demand.WTS maintained 2026 sales and margin outlook despite macroeconomic and trade uncertainties. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (WTS - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.04 compared with $2.37 in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.8%.
The company’s quarterly net sales increased 21% year over year to $677.3 million. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.2%. Organic sales were up 12% year over year due to favorable prices and higher volumes supported by strong growth in the data center market.
Management highlighted that the company delivered a strong start to 2026, supported by organic growth across all regions and record first-quarter net sales, operating income, operating margin and EPS, reflecting disciplined execution and continued focus on delivering value to customers. The company also emphasized that it is actively navigating geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties while continuing to invest in higher-growth opportunities such as data centers and digital solutions.
In addition, management noted that productivity and automation initiatives under the One Watts Performance System are helping drive efficiency and margin performance. Despite the solid start to the year, the company maintained its full-year 2026 outlook given the dynamic macroeconomic environment.
Supported by a strong balance sheet and healthy cash flow generation, management remains focused on disciplined capital allocation and creating sustainable long-term shareholder value.
Shares of the company have gained 39% in the past year compared with the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry’s growth of 23%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WTS’ Segment ResultsAmericas: Net sales increased 23% year over year to $515 million on a reported basis and rose 16% organically, primarily driven by favorable pricing and incremental volumes supported by strong data center demand. Acquisitions contributed $31 million in incremental sales, accounting for 7% of reported growth. Segment margin expanded 80 basis points (bps) as benefits from price realization, productivity improvements and volume leverage more than offset the impacts of inflation, tariffs and acquisition-related dilution.
Europe: Net sales increased 12% year over year to $121 million on a reported basis and grew 1% organically. Reported sales growth benefited from favorable foreign exchange, which contributed 11% to reported results. Organic sales growth was primarily driven by favorable pricing, which offset a modest decline in volumes. Segment margin contracted 20 bps as gains from price realization, productivity initiatives and restructuring actions were more than offset by inflationary pressures and volume deleverage.
APMEA: Net sales increased 29% year over year to $41 million on a reported basis and rose 3% organically, driven by growth in China, Australia and New Zealand, partially offset by weakness in the Middle East. Acquisitions contributed $6 million, or 19%, to reported sales growth, while favorable foreign exchange added 7%. Segment margin expanded 120 bps, supported by trade sales volume leverage, productivity gains and acquisition accretion, which more than offset inflation and affiliate volume deleverage.
WTS’ Other DetailsGross profit increased 19.7% year over year to $326.1 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 15.2% to $192.9 million. Operating income was $133 million, up 51.7% year over year. Adjusted operating income was $135.9 million, up 28.1% year over year.
Operating margin expanded 390 bps to 19.6%. The adjusted operating margin was 20.1%, up 110 bps year over year. Margin performance was driven by favorable pricing, productivity improvements and volume leverage, which more than offset the impacts of inflation, investments, tariffs and acquisition-related dilution. Operating margin also benefited from lower restructuring charges, partially offset by higher acquisition-related expenses.
WTS’ Cash Flow & LiquidityFor the first quarter ended March 29, 2026, Watts Water generated $17.9 million of cash from operating activities compared with $55.2 million in the prior-year period.
For the first quarter, free cash flow was $6.6 million compared with $45.6 million a year ago.
Free cash flow declined primarily due to higher capital expenditures and elevated working capital levels, which more than offset the benefit of increased net income. The rise in working capital was driven by higher accounts receivable linked to stronger net sales, increased inventory levels resulting from incremental tariffs and strategic inventory investments to support anticipated end-market demand, as well as higher annual customer rebates tied to sales growth and payment timing. Management expects free cash flow to improve sequentially through 2026 as working capital is gradually monetized in line with normal business seasonality.
On May 4, 2026, the company announced a 21% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the payout from 52 cents per share to 63 cents, effective June 2026.
During the first quarter of 2026, the company also repurchased nearly 13,000 shares for approximately $3.8 million. As of quarter-end, about $125 million remained available under the share repurchase program authorized in 2023, which has no expiration date.
As of March 29, 2026, the company had $374.7 million in cash and cash equivalents with $197.8 million of long-term debt compared with the respective figures of $405.5 million and $197.7 million as of Dec 31, 2025.
WTS’ GuidanceFor 2026, the company maintained its prior outlook and continues to expect reported sales growth in the range of 8% to 12%, with organic sales growth projected between 2% and 6%.
The company expects adjusted EBITDA margin to be between 21.5% and 22.1%, representing a change of down 40 bps to up 20 bps year over year.
The company anticipates operating margin to be between 18.8% and 19.4%, reflecting an expansion of 40-100 bps, while adjusted operating margin is forecast at 19.1% to 19.7%, implying a decline of 50 bps to an increase of 10 bps.
For the second quarter of 2026, the company expects reported sales growth of 10% to 14% and organic sales growth of 4% to 8%. Adjusted EBITDA margin is projected between 22.3% and 22.9%, while adjusted operating margin is expected in the range of 20% to 20.6%.
WTS’ Zacks RankWatts Water currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent Performance of Peers in the Same SpaceFlex Ltd. (FLEX - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of 93 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.1%. The bottom line compared favorably with 73 cents posted in the prior-year quarter.
Revenues increased 17% year over year to $7.5 billion. It beat the consensus mark by 8.1%. The growth was primarily driven by strong momentum across all three segments, with Cloud and Power Infrastructure emerging as the standout performer.
Fortive Corporation (FTV - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 70 cents from continuing operations, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents. The bottom line increased 25.4% year over year.
Revenues increased 7.7% year over year to $1069.4 million. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.8%. Core revenues jumped 5.3%.
Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 86 cents, up from 78 cents a year ago. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.4%.
Revenues for the quarter reached $934.8 million, up 2.6% from a year ago. The figure came near to the upper end of management’s expectations ($917-$937 million) and beat the consensus estimate by 0.7%. Strength Aerospace, Defense and Commercial Equipment segments drove the top-line performance.
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Stock to Watch: Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) Headquartered in North Andover, MA, Watts Water Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures and sells various water safety and flow control products to promote safety, energy efficiency, and water conservation for commercial and residential buildings. The company reports its business under three geographic segments: The Americas (75.8% of total revenues in 2025), Europe (18.5%) and APMEA consisting of Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (5.7%).
WTS is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. WTS has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 10.2% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $11.66 per share. WTS boasts an average earnings surprise of +11.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, WTS should be on investors' short list.
Have you evaluated the performance of Watts Water's (WTS - Free Report) international operations for the quarter ending March 2026? Given the extensive global presence of this maker of valves for plumbing, heating and water needs, analyzing the patterns in international revenues is crucial for understanding its financial strength and potential for growth.
The global economy today is deeply interlinked, making a company's engagement with international markets a critical factor in determining its financial success and growth path. It has become essential for investors to comprehend how much a company relies on these foreign markets, as this understanding reveals the firm's potential for consistent earnings, its capacity to harness different economic cycles, and its overall growth prospects.
Being present in foreign markets serves as protection against local economic declines and helps benefit from more rapidly expanding economies. Yet, such expansion also introduces challenges related to currency fluctuations, geopolitical uncertainties and varied market behaviors.
Our review of WTS' last quarterly performance uncovered some notable trends in the revenue contributions from its international markets, which are commonly analyzed and tracked by Wall Street experts.
The company's total revenue for the quarter amounted to $677.3 million, marking an increase of 21.4% from the year-ago quarter. We will next turn our attention to dissecting WTS' international revenue to get a clearer picture of how significant its operations are outside its main base.
A Closer Look at WTS' Revenue Streams AbroadEurope accounted for 17.9% of the company's total revenue during the quarter, translating to $121.4 million. Revenues from this region represented a surprise of +4.25%, with Wall Street analysts collectively expecting $116.45 million. When compared to the preceding quarter and the same quarter in the previous year, Europe contributed $119.7 million (19.2%) and $108.4 million (19.4%) to the total revenue, respectively.
Of the total revenue, $40.8 million came from APMEA during the last fiscal quarter, accounting for 6%. This represented a surprise of +5.16% as analysts had expected the region to contribute $38.8 million to the total revenue. In comparison, the region contributed $38.8 million, or 6.2%, and $31.5 million, or 5.7%, to total revenue in the previous and year-ago quarters, respectively.
Anticipated Revenues in Overseas MarketsThe current fiscal quarter's total revenue for Watts Water, as projected by Wall Street analysts, is expected to reach $709.21 million, reflecting an increase of 10.2% from the same quarter last year. The breakdown of this revenue by foreign region is as follows: Europe is anticipated to contribute 16.2% or $114.75 million, and APMEA 5.9% or $41.55 million.
For the entire year, the company's total revenue is forecasted to be $2.69 billion, which is an improvement of 10.3% from the previous year. The revenue contributions from different regions are expected as follows: Europe will contribute 17.4% ($467.7 million), and APMEA 6.2% ($167.33 million) to the total revenue.
Wrapping UpWatts Water's reliance on international markets for revenues offers both opportunities and risks. Hence, keeping an eye on its international revenue trends could significantly help forecast the company's prospects.
With the increasing intricacies of global interdependence and geopolitical strife, Wall Street analysts meticulously observe these patterns, especially for companies with an international footprint, to tweak their forecasts of earnings. Importantly, several additional factors, such as a company's domestic market status, also impact these earnings forecasts.
Emphasizing a company's shifting earnings prospects is a key aspect of our approach at Zacks, especially since research has proven its substantial influence on a stock's price in the short run. This correlation is positively aligned, meaning that improved earnings projections tend to boost the stock's price.
Our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, with its externally validated exceptional track record, harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions to serve as a dependable measure for anticipating the short-term price trends of stocks.
Currently, Watts Water holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), signifying its potential to match the overall market's performance in the forthcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Watts Water's Recent Stock Market PerformanceOver the past month, the stock has lost 1.9% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 9.1% increase. The Zacks Industrial Products sector, of which Watts Water is a part, has risen 2.6% over the same period. The company's shares have declined 9.6% over the past three months compared to the S&P 500's 7.1% increase. Over the same period, the sector has declined 1.1%
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) is proud to share that it has been named to TIME’s World’s Most Impactful Companies 2026 list in this new ranking’s inaugural year. Watts’ inclusion in this list is a recognition of the company’s net-positive contribution to the world, based on a scientific assessment of data on its technologies, operations, and global business practices.
The World’s Most Impactful Companies list, presented by TIME in partnership with Statista and The Upright Project, identifies companies and organizations that demonstrate a strong net-positive impact across key dimensions, including Society, Environment, Health, and Knowledge. Inclusion on the list reflects an independent, data-driven assessment of how effectively a company’s products and services contribute to global well-being across its full value chain.
“Being recognized by TIME as one of the World’s Most Impactful Companies acknowledges our commitment to delivering solutions that meet the needs of our customers and create lasting benefit for the environment as well as for communities across the globe,” said Robert J. Pagano, Jr., CEO, President and Chairperson of the Board at Watts. “At Watts, we are committed to advancing water safety, efficiency, and sustainability through innovation, while operating responsibly and holding ourselves accountable to measurable progress. This recognition is a direct result of the dedication and professionalism of our team members, who consistently uphold our value‑driven culture.”
Watts continues to integrate sustainability at the heart of its business strategy, reducing environmental impact by lowering emissions, advancing water conservation across its operations, and delivering solutions that help customers optimize performance while conserving critical resources.
To learn more about Watts’ Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments and initiatives, read the company’s latest Sustainability Report or visit www.watts.com/our-story/sustainability.
The ranking is based on a rigorous, science-based methodology that evaluates companies using The Upright Project’s Net Impact Model, which analyzes the positive and negative effects of a company’s activities across its full value chain. Companies included must demonstrate a positive overall net impact and meet criteria related to scale, transparency, and available data.
About Watts
For more than 150 years, Watts has delivered innovative and sustainable technologies designed to safeguard the world’s most precious resource. Watts designs, manufactures, and sells an extensive line of flow control, water safety, water filtration and treatment, radiant heating, and drainage products for the commercial, residential, and institutional markets. Watts is committed to helping its customers optimize system performance and reliability while conserving critical resources. For more information, visit www.watts.com.
Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Watts Water basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Watts Water imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Watts WaterThis maker of valves for plumbing, heating and water needs is expected to earn $11.90 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Watts Water. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 2.1%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Watts Water to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) – through its subsidiaries, one of the world's leading manufacturers and providers of plumbing, heating and water quality products and solutions – was named one of Newsweek's World's Greenest Companies 2026. This marks the second consecutive year that Watts has received this recognition of the company's continued dedication to advancing environmental sustainability across its operations, products and solutions. To.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Watts Water (WTS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Watts Water due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Watts Water Q1 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Rise Y/Y
Watts Water reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.04 compared with $2.37 in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.8%.
The company’s quarterly net sales increased 21% year over year to $677.3 million. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.2%. Organic sales were up 12% year over year, driven by favorable prices and higher volumes supported by strong growth in the data center market.
Management highlighted that the company delivered a strong start to 2026, supported by organic growth across all regions and record first-quarter net sales, operating income, operating margin and EPS, reflecting disciplined execution and continued focus on delivering value to customers. Watts Water also emphasized that it is actively navigating geopolitical and trade-related uncertainties while continuing to invest in higher-growth opportunities such as data centers and digital solutions.
In addition, management noted that productivity and automation initiatives under the One Watts Performance System are helping drive efficiency and margin performance. Despite the solid start to the year, the company maintained its full-year 2026 outlook given the dynamic macroeconomic environment.
Supported by a strong balance sheet and healthy cash flow generation, management remains focused on disciplined capital allocation and creating sustainable long-term shareholder value.
Q1 Segment Results
Americas: Net sales increased 23% year over year to $515 million on a reported basis and rose 16% organically, primarily driven by favorable pricing and incremental volumes supported by strong data center demand. Acquisitions contributed $31 million in incremental sales, accounting for 7% of reported growth. Segment margin expanded 80 basis points (bps) as benefits from price realization, productivity improvements and volume leverage more than offset the impacts of inflation, tariffs and acquisition-related dilution.
Europe: Net sales increased 12% year over year to $121 million on a reported basis and grew 1% organically. Reported sales growth benefited from favorable foreign exchange, which contributed 11% to reported results. Organic sales growth was primarily driven by favorable pricing, which offset a modest decline in volumes. Segment margin contracted 20 bps as gains from price realization, productivity initiatives and restructuring actions were more than offset by inflationary pressures and volume deleverage.
APMEA: Net sales increased 29% year over year to $41 million on a reported basis and rose 3% organically, driven by growth in China, Australia and New Zealand, partially offset by weakness in the Middle East. Acquisitions contributed $6 million, or 19%, to reported sales growth, while favorable foreign exchange added 7%. Segment margin expanded 120 bps, supported by trade sales volume leverage, productivity gains and acquisition accretion, which more than offset inflation and affiliate volume deleverage.
Other Details
Gross profit increased 19.7% year over year to $326.1 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 15.2% to $192.9 million. Operating income was $133 million, up 51.7% year over year. Adjusted operating income was $135.9 million, up 28.1% year over year.
Operating margin expanded 390 bps to 19.6%. The adjusted operating margin was 20.1%, up 110 bps year over year. Margin performance was driven by favorable pricing, productivity improvements and volume leverage, which more than offset the impacts of inflation, investments, tariffs and acquisition-related dilution. Operating margin also benefited from lower restructuring charges, partially offset by higher acquisition-related expenses.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
For the first quarter ended March 29, 2026, Watts Water generated $17.9 million of cash from operating activities compared with $55.2 million in the prior-year period.
For the first quarter, free cash flow was $6.6 million compared with $45.6 million a year ago.
Free cash flow declined primarily due to higher capital expenditures and elevated working capital levels, which more than offset the benefit of increased net income. The rise in working capital was driven by higher accounts receivable linked to stronger net sales, increased inventory levels resulting from incremental tariffs and strategic inventory investments to support anticipated end-market demand, as well as higher annual customer rebates tied to sales growth and payment timing. Management expects free cash flow to improve sequentially through 2026 as working capital is gradually monetized in line with normal business seasonality.
On May 4, 2026, the company announced a 21% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the payout from 52 cents per share to 63 cents, effective June 2026.
During the first quarter of 2026, the company also repurchased nearly 13,000 shares for approximately $3.8 million. As of quarter-end, about $125 million remained available under the share repurchase program authorized in 2023, which has no expiration date.
As of March 29, 2026, the company had $374.7 million in cash and cash equivalents with $197.8 million of long-term debt compared with the respective figures of $405.5 million and $197.7 million as of Dec 31, 2025.
Q2 & 2026 Guidance by WTS
For 2026, the company maintained its prior outlook and continues to expect reported sales growth in the range of 8% to 12%, with organic sales growth projected between 2% and 6%.
Watts Water expects adjusted EBITDA margin to be between 21.5% and 22.1%, representing a change of down 40 bps to up 20 bps year over year.
The company anticipates operating margin to be between 18.8% and 19.4%, reflecting an expansion of 40-100 bps, while adjusted operating margin is forecast at 19.1% to 19.7%, implying a decline of 50 bps to an increase of 10 bps.
For the second quarter of 2026, Watts Water expects reported sales growth of 10% to 14% and organic sales growth of 4% to 8%. Adjusted EBITDA margin is projected between 22.3% and 22.9%, while adjusted operating margin is expected in the range of 20% to 20.6%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Watts Water has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Watts Water has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerWatts Water is part of the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry. Over the past month, Crane (CR - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 3.6%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended March 2026 more than a month ago.
Crane reported revenues of $696.4 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +24.9%. EPS of $1.65 for the same period compares with $1.39 a year ago.
Crane is expected to post earnings of $1.65 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
Crane has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of D.