Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW Shares Bought by Czech National Bank

Key Points

• The Czech National Bank increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by 5.7% during Q2, acquiring an additional 1,312 shares, bringing its total holdings to 24,235 shares valued at approximately $7.43 million.
• Willis Towers Watson announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, set to be paid on October 15, with a 1.1% annual yield and a payout ratio of 252.05%.
• The company recently reported earnings of $2.86 per share, exceeding estimates by $0.21, amidst a slight 0.2% decline in revenue year-over-year.

Czech National Bank increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 5.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 24,235 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,312 shares during the period. Czech National Bank's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $7,428,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,018 shares of the company's stock valued at $682,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.1% in the 2nd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 392 shares of the company's stock worth $120,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Vident Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 1,405 shares of the company's stock worth $440,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 38.6% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 140 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,408 shares of the company's stock worth $476,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. 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 mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $336.71. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,309,446 shares, compared to its average volume of 457,743. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 1 year low of $286.00 and a 1 year high of $344.14. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $324.16 and a 200-day moving average of $317.50. The firm has a market capitalization 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. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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 business had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The company's quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

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

Willis Towers Watson Public declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

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.