Quarry LP Grows Stock Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Quarry LP increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson, acquiring an additional 1,120 shares, leading to a total of 2,659 shares worth approximately $899,000.
• In the first quarter, other significant institutional investors also bolstered their positions, with GAMMA Investing LLC's stake surging by 40,489.4% to over 1 million shares valued at $340 million.
• Willis Towers Watson recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $3.68 and a yield of 1.1%.

Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 72.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,659 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,120 shares during the quarter. Quarry LP's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $899,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 40,489.4% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,007,429 shares of the company's stock worth $340,461,000 after acquiring an additional 1,004,947 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6,286.4% in the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 862,869 shares of the company's stock worth $270,284,000 after acquiring an additional 849,358 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter worth about $195,043,000. Polen Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 185.1% in the 1st quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 366,539 shares of the company's stock worth $123,872,000 after purchasing an additional 237,953 shares during the period. Finally, Atalan Capital Partners LP boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 90.0% in the 4th quarter. Atalan Capital Partners LP now owns 475,000 shares of the company's stock worth $148,789,000 after purchasing an additional 225,000 shares during the period. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.4%

NASDAQ:WTW traded down $1.33 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $325.46. The company's stock had a trading volume of 537,343 shares, compared to its average volume of 548,354. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $317.17 and a 200-day moving average of $317.34. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 1 year low of $283.29 and a 1 year high of $344.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.75 billion, a PE ratio of 222.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 EPS. The company's revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

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 dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date 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 is currently 252.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on 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. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Barclays dropped 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 research note on Monday, July 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $362.92.

About Willis Towers Watson Public

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.