Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) Holdings Lifted by Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.

Key Points

• Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson by 105.7%, acquiring an additional 4,175 shares to hold a total of 8,126 shares valued at approximately $2.75 million.
• Institutional investors dominate ownership of Willis Towers Watson, with 93.09% of the stock held by hedge funds and other institutions, indicating strong institutional interest.
• Willis Towers Watson declared a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, representing a 1.22% dividend yield, with a significant negative dividend payout ratio of -736.00%.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 105.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,126 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 4,175 shares during the quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.'s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $2,747,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total value of $505,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 11,982 shares in the company, valued at $3,783,316.50. The trade was a 11.78% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $1.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $314.77. 928,150 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 665,068. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $306.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $316.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a market cap of $31.21 billion, a PE ratio of 215.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.67. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a one year low of $271.01 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. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 1.40%. The company had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.55 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is presently -736.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WTW has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. 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. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $367.11.

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.