WTS 8-K Filed 2026-08-05 Execution disclosure

Watts Water repurchased 13K shares for $4.1M in Q2 2026

$121M remains under 2023 authorization with no expiration date; execution continues at measured pace.

Shares repurchased13K
Avg price paid$315.38
Remaining$121M
MechanismRule 10b-18 open-market purcha

What the filing says

Watts Water Technologies repurchased approximately 13,000 shares of Class A common stock in the second quarter of 2026 at a total cost of $4.1 million, representing an average price of $315.38 per share. The repurchase was executed under the company's stock repurchase program originally authorized in 2023, which carries no expiration date.

As of the end of Q2 2026, approximately $121 million remained available for repurchase under this authorization. The company reported record second quarter sales of $763.2 million (up 19% reported, 12% organically) and diluted EPS of $3.53, up 17% year-over-year, demonstrating strong operational performance that supports the capital allocation flexibility to continue modest share repurchases.

For the first half of 2026, the company generated operating cash flow of $121 million with free cash flow of $98 million, though down from $105 million in the prior-year period due to higher working capital and increased capital expenditures. The company also held $347.9 million in cash and equivalents and maintained a negative net debt position of $239.9 million.

The Company repurchased approximately 13,000 shares of Class A common stock at a cost of $4.1 million during the second quarter of 2026. Approximately $121 million remains available under the stock repurchase program authorized in 2023. — WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES INC 8-K filing  ·  View on SEC EDGAR →

What this means

Watts Water's Q2 buyback activity—13,000 shares at $4.1M—reflects a measured, opportunistic approach to capital deployment. With $121M remaining on an undated authorization established in 2023, the company maintains flexibility to repurchase shares without programmatic urgency. The repurchase had minimal share-count impact (less than 0.04% of the ~33.5M diluted shares outstanding) but demonstrates continuing discipline in returning cash to shareholders alongside dividend payments of $38.8M in the first half of 2026. The company's strong cash generation, solid market position (especially in high-growth segments like data centers), and healthy balance sheet suggest capacity to sustain modest buyback activity, though the pace remains conservative relative to the authorization pool.

Frequently asked questions

How many shares did Watts Water repurchase in Q2 2026, and at what price?
The company repurchased approximately 13,000 shares of Class A common stock for a total cost of $4.1 million during the second quarter, equating to an average price of approximately $315.38 per share. This represented less than 0.04% reduction in the diluted share count of 33.5 million shares.
How much authorization remains available for future repurchases?
Approximately $121 million remains available under the stock repurchase program authorized in 2023. This authorization carries no expiration date, giving the company ongoing flexibility to repurchase shares opportunistically without time pressure.
Is this buyback part of a new authorization or an existing program?
The Q2 2026 repurchases are executed under a program originally authorized in 2023. No new authorization was announced in this filing; this represents execution under the standing approval.
How does the buyback fit within Watts Water's overall capital allocation strategy?
Watts Water balanced share repurchases ($4.1M in Q2), dividend payments ($38.8M in the first half of 2026), and debt reduction ($90M prepaid in H1 2026) alongside organic capital expenditure of $22.6M. The measured buyback pace reflects management's focus on maintaining a healthy balance sheet while rewarding shareholders.
What is the company's financial position to support continued buybacks?
Watts Water generated free cash flow of $98.2M in the first half of 2026 (down from $105.1M in H1 2025) and maintains $347.9M in cash. The company has a negative net debt position of $239.9M, indicating strong liquidity despite modest near-term cash flow headwinds from working capital and tariff-related inventory investments.
Why is the repurchase pace so modest relative to the available authorization?
The conservative repurchase pace reflects management's disciplined capital allocation approach, prioritizing debt reduction (paying down $90M in the first six months), investing in organic growth opportunities (especially data center segment expansion), and maintaining flexibility for strategic acquisitions. The $121M remaining authorization provides ample capacity for opportunistic repurchases without forcing execution.
execution rule-10b-18 industrial-manufacturing Q2-2026 modest-pace
Source. This editorial summary is based on the SEC filing linked above. BuybackStocks aggregates and editorializes publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. Not investment advice. Past authorization announcements do not guarantee future repurchase activity or share price performance. See our full disclosures policy.