River Road Asset Management LLC Trims Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• River Road Asset Management cut its WTW stake by 23.3% in the second quarter, selling 113,100 shares and retaining 371,893 shares valued at approximately $97.2 million. Institutional investors collectively own 93.09% of the company.
• Willis Towers Watson reported a quarterly earnings beat, with EPS of $3.35 versus the $3.12 consensus and revenue of $2.47 billion, up 9.1% year over year. The company also maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.96 per share, yielding about 1.1% annually.
• Analysts remain generally positive, with WTW receiving a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $363.50, above its reported opening price of $340.29.

River Road Asset Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 23.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 371,893 shares of the company's stock after selling 113,100 shares during the period. Willis Towers Watson Public accounts for about 1.1% of River Road Asset Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. River Road Asset Management LLC owned about 0.39% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $97,202,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Legal & General Group Plc raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 690,210 shares of the company's stock worth $226,803,000 after purchasing an additional 10,697 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 45.7% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 20,225 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,646,000 after buying an additional 6,340 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at $511,151,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 945.0% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 57,641 shares of the company's stock worth $18,941,000 after buying an additional 52,125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. National Pension Service now owns 158,741 shares of the company's stock worth $52,162,000 after buying an additional 9,112 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 0.6%

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $340.29 on Thursday. The business's 50-day moving average is $289.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $287.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.68. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 12 month low of $240.61 and a 12 month high of $352.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.60 billion, a PE ratio of 20.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.42.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $3.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.12 by $0.23. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 22.19% and a net margin of 15.49%.The company had revenue of $2.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.42 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.86 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 19.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.96 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 30th. This represents a $3.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is 23.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WTW has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $381.00 to $394.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $320.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $341.00 to $378.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $344.00 to $380.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $363.50.

About Willis Towers Watson Public

Willis Towers Watson Public NASDAQ: WTW is a global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps organizations manage risk, optimize benefits and cultivate talent. The firm combines insurance brokerage and risk management capabilities with human capital and benefits consulting, actuarial and analytics services, and technology-enabled solutions. Willis Towers Watson serves a broad client base that includes multinational and mid-sized corporations, public sector organizations, insurers and investment managers.

The company's core activities encompass commercial and reinsurance brokerage, risk transfer and risk-financing advice, and claims advocacy, alongside employee benefits and retirement consulting.

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