Clark Capital Management Group Inc. Buys 3,325 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Clark Capital Management Group Inc. grew its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 225,667 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,325 shares during the quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. owned about 0.22% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $70,688,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the fourth 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 bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $49,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $76,000. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Willis Towers Watson Public news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the 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 in the company, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WTW has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of 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. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered 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. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Barclays upped 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 report on Friday, April 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $351.55.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of WTW stock traded down $1.61 on Monday, reaching $307.46. 487,797 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 650,431. The company has a market cap of $30.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -307.46, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a 50-day moving average of $321.46 and a 200-day moving average of $318.84. 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 one year low of $248.09 and a one year 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 company had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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%. Willis Towers Watson Public's revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.13 EPS. 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.20%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is currently -736.00%.

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.