Capital Research Global Investors Increases Position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 0.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 426,226 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 824 shares during the quarter. Capital Research Global Investors owned 0.42% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $133,511,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 24.9% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 187,267 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,156,000 after purchasing an additional 37,340 shares during the period. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $993,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 4,135 shares of the company's stock worth $1,364,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Sunriver Management LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Sunriver Management LLC now owns 175,627 shares of the company's stock worth $55,013,000 after acquiring an additional 1,223 shares during the period. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter valued at $39,999,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ WTW traded down $4.87 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $302.19. 1,557,390 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 573,072. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -302.19, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 52-week low of $248.09 and a 52-week high of $344.14. The company's 50-day moving average is $326.46 and its 200-day moving average is $317.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.98.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.27 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. Analysts expect 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors 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 yield of 1.22%. This is a boost from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -736.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on WTW. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $357.00 to $373.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays increased their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $387.00 target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $346.38.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the 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 directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Company 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.