Diametric Capital LP Lowers Stock Position in Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA)

Diametric Capital LP cut its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) by 35.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,861 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 5,500 shares during the period. Diametric Capital LP’s holdings in Mueller Water Products were worth $222,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 45,215 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 379 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. boosted its position in Mueller Water Products by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 42,929 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $966,000 after purchasing an additional 581 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in Mueller Water Products by 14.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 5,618 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $126,000 after purchasing an additional 726 shares in the last quarter. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC grew its stake in Mueller Water Products by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC now owns 13,233 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $298,000 after purchasing an additional 858 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. raised its holdings in Mueller Water Products by 8.7% in the fourth quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 11,066 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $249,000 after purchasing an additional 883 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.68% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Mueller Water Products from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Mueller Water Products from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $25.80.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Mueller Water Products news, Director Lydia W. Thomas sold 17,092 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.77, for a total value of $457,552.84. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 126,689 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,391,464.53. This represents a 11.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Brian Slobodow sold 11,132 shares of Mueller Water Products stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.73, for a total value of $275,294.36. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $182,408.48. The trade was a 60.15 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Mueller Water Products Stock Up 1.5 %

MWA stock opened at $26.08 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.08 billion, a PE ratio of 30.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.39. Mueller Water Products, Inc. has a 52 week low of $14.81 and a 52 week high of $28.58. The company has a quick ratio of 2.38, a current ratio of 3.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $25.81 and a 200 day moving average of $24.01.

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.06. Mueller Water Products had a net margin of 10.05% and a return on equity of 21.18%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.13 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Mueller Water Products, Inc. will post 1.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Mueller Water Products Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th were given a $0.067 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. This represents a $0.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.03%. Mueller Water Products’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.23%.

Mueller Water Products Company Profile

Mueller Water Products, Inc manufactures and markets products and services for the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water used by municipalities, and the residential and non-residential construction industries in the United States, Israel, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions.