Gotham Asset Management LLC Purchases 6,919 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Gotham Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson by 14.9%, owning 53,499 shares valued at approximately $18 million.
• Several other institutional investors have also increased their stakes in Willis Towers Watson, reflecting a growing interest as these investors now own 93.09% of the company's stock.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92, translating to an annualized dividend yield of 1.1%.

Gotham Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 14.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 53,499 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 6,919 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLC owned about 0.05% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $18,080,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WTW. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,368 shares of the company's stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 1,475 shares of the company's stock valued at $462,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 25.1% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,242 shares of the company's stock valued at $702,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.9% during the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 10,507 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,291,000 after purchasing an additional 1,961 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Crestline Management LP acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter valued at $202,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $2.75 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $329.48. The company's stock had a trading volume of 686,215 shares, compared to its average volume of 640,976. 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 business's fifty day moving average price is $319.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $317.54. The firm has a market cap of $32.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 225.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a one year low of $283.29 and a one year high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 1.40%.The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, 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 company also recently declared 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. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is currently 252.05%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on WTW shares. Citigroup started coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective for the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.