Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW Shares Sold by Rafferty Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Rafferty Asset Management LLC reduced its position in Willis Towers Watson by 7.9%, owning 32,721 shares valued at approximately $11.06 million.
• Analysts maintain a consensus target price of $362.92 for Willis Towers Watson, with varying ratings from "Strong Buy" to "Sell" among different investment analysts.
• In the latest quarter, Willis Towers Watson reported a 12-month high of $344.14 and earnings per share of $2.86, exceeding analysts' consensus estimates.

Rafferty Asset Management LLC reduced its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 7.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,721 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,822 shares during the quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $11,058,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter worth about $32,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% during the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Morgan Stanley boosted 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 note 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 on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $362.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total value of $505,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 11,982 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,783,316.50. This trade represents a 11.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of NASDAQ WTW traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $326.79. 370,858 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 612,124. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52-week low of $283.29 and a 52-week high of $344.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.88 billion, a PE ratio of 223.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.67. 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 $316.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $317.28.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share (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 company's revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS 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 $0.92 dividend. 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%.

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.