Cetera Investment Advisers Increases Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 22.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,507 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,961 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers' holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $3,291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its stake 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 purchasing 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 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter worth approximately $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter worth approximately $76,000. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of NASDAQ:WTW traded down $3.80 during trading on Thursday, reaching $307.03. The company's stock had a trading volume of 59,814 shares, compared to its average volume of 581,442. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12 month low of $248.09 and a 12 month high of $344.14. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $318.57 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $319.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.44 billion, a PE ratio of -306.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. 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 previous year, the business posted $3.13 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.20%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is -736.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on WTW shares. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. 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 note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $351.55.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Willis Towers Watson Public news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total value of $1,136,245.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 74,417 shares of the company's stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.