** Jefferies starts coverage of fluid meter makers, rating Badger Meter BMI.N a "buy" and Watts Water Technologies WTS.N a "hold"
** Brokerage says Badger Meter, with ~30% share in North America, is primed for strong growth as the water metering market upgrades
** Adds co's digital push and rapid software growth fuel margin gains and faster advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)-driven expansion
** Jefferies says WTS benefits from prior projects despite mixed construction trends
** However, Europe remains a drag for WTS, with flat growth and structural hurdles limiting improvement, says brokerage
** YTD, S&P 600- Electronic & Instruments index .SPSMCEEIS up 26%
Company | PT | Upside from the stock's last close |
Badger Meter | $220 | 20.6% |
Watts Water | $300 | 7.9% |
(Reporting by Apratim Sarkar in Bengaluru)
((Apratim.Sarkar@thomsonreuters.com))
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