Alyeska Investment Group L.P. Acquires 124,894 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Alyeska Investment Group L.P. significantly increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson, raising its holdings by 6,618.7% to own 126,781 shares valued at approximately $42.8 million.
• Several other hedge funds also made large adjustments to their positions in Willis Towers Watson, indicating strong institutional interest, with GAMMA Investing LLC increasing its stake by a staggering 40,489.4%.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, with a payout ratio of 252.05%, highlighting its commitment to returning value to shareholders despite recent revenue fluctuations.

Alyeska Investment Group L.P. increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 6,618.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 126,781 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 124,894 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. owned approximately 0.13% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $42,846,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in WTW. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% during the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded up $2.96 during trading on Monday, hitting $332.23. The company's stock had a trading volume of 559,823 shares, compared to its average volume of 639,400. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $318.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $317.42. The company has a market capitalization of $32.41 billion, a PE ratio of 227.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52 week low of $283.29 and a 52 week high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.21. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The company had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. Willis Towers Watson Public's revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 252.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WTW has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, August 18th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $362.92.

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.