Magnetar Financial LLC Purchases 1,313 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Magnetar Financial LLC increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by 19.2%, purchasing an additional 1,313 shares during the first quarter, bringing its total holdings to 8,162 shares valued at approximately $2.76 million.
• Several hedge funds, including Bessemer Group Inc. and Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc., have also significantly increased their holdings in Willis Towers Watson during the same period, indicating robust interest from institutional investors.
• Willis Towers Watson recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, which reflects an annualized yield of 1.1%, although its payout ratio stands at a high 252.05%.

Magnetar Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 19.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,162 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,313 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $2,758,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 9.2% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 94,406 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,905,000 after buying an additional 7,932 shares during the last quarter. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 235,995 shares of the company's stock valued at $79,755,000 after acquiring an additional 4,064 shares in the last quarter. ICONIQ Capital LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter worth $233,000. Finally, Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 206.1% during the 1st quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC now owns 16,069 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,431,000 after buying an additional 10,820 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on WTW. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price 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. 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 report on Monday, July 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Finally, Citigroup initiated 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 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $362.92.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

WTW traded down $1.33 on Tuesday, reaching $325.46. The company had a trading volume of 537,343 shares, compared to its average volume of 644,412. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $317.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $317.34. The company has a market cap of $31.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 222.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52-week low of $283.29 and a 52-week high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.21. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The business had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS 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. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be given a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is 252.05%.

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.