Canoe Financial LP Has $72.13 Million Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Canoe Financial LP increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson by 3.4%, owning 235,341 shares valued at approximately $72.1 million at the end of the last reporting period.
• The company's recent earnings report showed earnings per share of $2.86, exceeding analyst expectations, while revenue for the quarter was $2.26 billion, down 0.2% year-over-year.
• A quarterly dividend of $0.92 will be paid, with a yield of 1.1%, although its dividend payout ratio stands at a high 252.05%.

Canoe Financial LP lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 235,341 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 7,720 shares during the quarter. Canoe Financial LP owned about 0.24% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $72,132,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WTW. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 40,489.4% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,007,429 shares of the company's stock valued at $340,461,000 after acquiring an additional 1,004,947 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter valued at $195,043,000. Polen Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 185.1% in the 1st quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 366,539 shares of the company's stock valued at $123,872,000 after acquiring an additional 237,953 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter valued at $60,390,000. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6,618.7% in the 1st quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 126,781 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,846,000 after acquiring an additional 124,894 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 1.5%

NASDAQ:WTW traded up $5.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $336.71. The stock had a trading volume of 1,309,446 shares, compared to its average volume of 457,743. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 1-year low of $286.00 and a 1-year high of $344.14. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $324.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $317.50. The company has a market cap of $32.85 billion, a PE ratio of 230.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.71.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

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

Willis Towers Watson Public announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $362.92.

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.