California State Teachers Retirement System Acquires 39,503,255 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• California State Teachers Retirement System dramatically increased its WTW stake, buying 39.5 million additional shares in the second quarter to own 39.66 million shares, or approximately 42.7% of the company. Institutional investors collectively hold 93.09% of WTW’s stock.
• Willis Towers Watson reported quarterly earnings of $3.35 per share, exceeding estimates of $3.12, while revenue rose 9.1% year over year to $2.47 billion. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.96 per share, equivalent to a 1.2% yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive, with WTW carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $369.38, compared with an opening share price of $325.34.

California State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 25,756.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,656,625 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 39,503,255 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned approximately 42.70% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $10,365,052,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WTW. Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 690,210 shares of the company's stock worth $226,803,000 after acquiring an additional 10,697 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at about $511,151,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 45.7% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 20,225 shares of the company's stock worth $6,646,000 after purchasing an additional 6,340 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 945.0% during the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 57,641 shares of the company's stock worth $18,941,000 after acquiring an additional 52,125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. National Pension Service now owns 158,741 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,162,000 after purchasing an additional 9,112 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of WTW opened at $325.34 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $319.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $291.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a twelve month low of $240.61 and a twelve month high of $352.79. The company has a market cap of $30.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.41.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $3.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.12 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $2.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.42 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 22.19% and a net margin of 15.49%.The company's revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.86 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 19.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be given a $0.96 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is 23.62%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WTW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $345.00 target price (up from $300.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $283.00 to $317.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $344.00 to $380.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $320.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $369.38.

Willis Towers Watson Public Profile

Willis Towers Watson Public NASDAQ: WTW is a global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps organizations manage risk, optimize benefits and cultivate talent. The firm combines insurance brokerage and risk management capabilities with human capital and benefits consulting, actuarial and analytics services, and technology-enabled solutions. Willis Towers Watson serves a broad client base that includes multinational and mid-sized corporations, public sector organizations, insurers and investment managers.

The company's core activities encompass commercial and reinsurance brokerage, risk transfer and risk-financing advice, and claims advocacy, alongside employee benefits and retirement consulting.

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