AQR Capital Management LLC Has $14.48 Million Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

AQR Capital Management LLC lowered its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 20.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 46,216 shares of the company's stock after selling 11,845 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $14,476,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth about $484,210,000. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 52.4% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,682,939 shares of the company's stock worth $1,153,644,000 after acquiring an additional 1,266,484 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 77.5% during the fourth quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,788,542 shares of the company's stock valued at $873,483,000 after acquiring an additional 1,217,714 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6,676.1% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 988,430 shares of the company's stock valued at $309,616,000 after acquiring an additional 973,843 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 33,979.6% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 458,370 shares of the company's stock worth $143,580,000 after purchasing an additional 457,025 shares during the period. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

WTW stock traded down $0.12 during trading on Friday, reaching $309.05. 396,312 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 581,081. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $321.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $318.46. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $30.64 billion, a P/E ratio of -309.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a twelve month low of $248.09 and a twelve month high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.27 by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.13 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.19%. This is an increase from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -736.00%.

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total value of $1,136,245.68. Following the sale, the insider now owns 74,417 shares of the company's stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WTW has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $351.55.

About Willis Towers Watson Public

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company operates as an advisory, broking, and solutions company worldwide. It operates through two segments: Health, Wealth & Career and Risk & Broking. The company offers strategy and design consulting, plan management service and support, broking and administration services for health, wellbeing, and other group benefit program, including medical, dental, disability, life, voluntary benefits and other coverages; actuarial support, plan design, and administrative services for pension and retirement savings plans; retirement consulting services and solutions; and integrated solutions that consists of investment discretionary management, pension administration, core actuarial, and communication and change management assistance services.