Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. Raises Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by 74.5%, bringing its total holdings to 6,283 shares valued at approximately $2.12 million.
• Brokerages have recently adjusted their price targets for Willis Towers Watson, with Morgan Stanley raising its target from $335.00 to $345.00, while Barclays lowered it from $316.00 to $305.00.
• Willis Towers Watson announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, set to be paid on October 15th, with a dividend yield of 1.1%.

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 74.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,283 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,682 shares during the quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co.'s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $2,123,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake 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 worth $28,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% during the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $1.33 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $325.46. The company had a trading volume of 537,343 shares, compared to its average volume of 644,412. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 1 year low of $283.29 and a 1 year high of $344.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90. The company has a market capitalization of $31.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 222.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.71. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $316.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $317.29.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share (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 company had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be issued 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 dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 252.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Citigroup initiated 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 on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus 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.