Short Interest in Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) Increases By 37.3%

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) was the target of a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 3,968,675 shares, an increase of 37.3% from the December 15th total of 2,891,419 shares. Currently, 2.6% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,362,109 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.9 days. Based on an average daily volume of 1,362,109 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.9 days. Currently, 2.6% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Brian C. Healy purchased 1,125 shares of Mueller Water Products stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 7th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $24.41 per share, with a total value of $27,461.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 17,925 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $437,549.25. This trade represents a 6.70% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Todd P. Helms sold 15,094 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.62, for a total value of $371,614.28. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 85,917 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,115,276.54. This represents a 14.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Mueller Water Products

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in Mueller Water Products by 525.9% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,393,293 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $35,557,000 after acquiring an additional 1,170,683 shares during the period. Triodos Investment Management BV increased its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 2.6% during the second quarter. Triodos Investment Management BV now owns 1,080,000 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $25,963,000 after purchasing an additional 27,500 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Mueller Water Products by 8.7% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 282,878 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $6,800,000 after purchasing an additional 22,718 shares in the last quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. lifted its holdings in Mueller Water Products by 20.7% in the second quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. now owns 500,405 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $12,030,000 after purchasing an additional 85,785 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in Mueller Water Products in the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,618,000. 91.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Mueller Water Products Stock Performance

Shares of MWA traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $26.37. 1,620,668 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 966,139. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $24.41 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 2.41 and a current ratio of 3.54. Mueller Water Products has a 1-year low of $22.01 and a 1-year high of $28.58.

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The industrial products company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $380.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $362.32 million. Mueller Water Products had a net margin of 13.41% and a return on equity of 22.75%. Mueller Water Products’s quarterly revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.22 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Mueller Water Products will post 1.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mueller Water Products Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were given a dividend of $0.07 per share. This is a boost from Mueller Water Products’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. Mueller Water Products’s payout ratio is presently 23.14%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Mueller Water Products in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $29.00.

About Mueller Water Products

Mueller Water Products, Inc is a leading provider of water infrastructure and flow control products and services designed to help water utilities and municipalities manage, control and measure their water distribution systems. The company’s portfolio includes a comprehensive range of products such as fire hydrants, valves, pipe repair systems, fittings and couplings, along with advanced metering and monitoring solutions. By combining traditional mechanical components with digital technologies, Mueller Water Products addresses the critical need for reliable and sustainable water distribution across North America.

The company’s operations are organized around two primary business segments.