Exchange Traded Concepts LLC Raises Stock Position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 345.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,260 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 10,281 shares during the quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $4,481,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. GeoWealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% in the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $62,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 57.5% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 274 shares of the company's stock valued at $93,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on WTW. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $356.30.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total value of $505,200.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,982 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,783,316.50. This represents a 11.78% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $297.83 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a fifty-two week low of $254.44 and a fifty-two week high of $344.14. The stock has a market cap of $29.53 billion, a PE ratio of -297.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.70. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $310.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $318.43.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The company had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.13 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -736.00%.

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.

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