Baupost Group LLC MA Raises Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Baupost Group LLC MA raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 3.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,836,748 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 55,542 shares during the period. Willis Towers Watson Public accounts for approximately 16.7% of Baupost Group LLC MA's holdings, making the stock its biggest position. Baupost Group LLC MA owned approximately 1.82% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $575,343,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95.5% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 174 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $76,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

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 value of $1,136,245.68. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.32% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of WTW traded down $3.73 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $321.00. The company's stock had a trading volume of 658,731 shares, compared to its average volume of 564,106. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1-year low of $245.04 and a 1-year high of $344.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a market cap of $32.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -321.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a 50 day moving average of $327.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $316.57.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $8.01 by $0.12. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The firm had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $7.44 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.15%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is -368.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on WTW shares. Evercore ISI upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $357.00 to $373.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $387.00 price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company 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 boosted their target price for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $346.38.

Willis Towers Watson Public Profile

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.