Baird Financial Group Inc. Has $3.03 Million Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Baird Financial Group Inc. lowered its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 40.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,661 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,638 shares during the quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $3,027,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WTW. GeoWealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% in the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter valued at $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth about $76,000. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on WTW. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $351.55.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WTW traded up $6.64 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $310.01. The stock had a trading volume of 370,814 shares, compared to its average volume of 580,653. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.74 billion, a P/E ratio of -310.01, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1-year low of $248.09 and a 1-year high of $344.14. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $319.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $318.75.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

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

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.