Sound Shore Management Inc. CT Cuts Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW)

Sound Shore Management Inc. CT lessened its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 22.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 230,708 shares of the company's stock after selling 66,412 shares during the quarter. Willis Towers Watson Public makes up approximately 2.7% of Sound Shore Management Inc. CT's investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Sound Shore Management Inc. CT owned 0.23% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $77,968,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 52.4% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,682,939 shares of the company's stock worth $1,153,644,000 after buying an additional 1,266,484 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 77.5% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,788,542 shares of the company's stock worth $873,483,000 after buying an additional 1,217,714 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 14.7% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,228,497 shares of the company's stock worth $698,055,000 after buying an additional 285,497 shares during the period. Baupost Group LLC MA grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA now owns 1,836,748 shares of the company's stock worth $575,343,000 after buying an additional 55,542 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth approximately $484,210,000. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total transaction of $505,200.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 11,982 shares in the company, valued at $3,783,316.50. This represents a 11.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded up $4.38 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $313.11. The stock had a trading volume of 445,664 shares, compared to its average volume of 718,190. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 12 month low of $271.01 and a 12 month high of $344.14. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $306.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $316.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.04 billion, a PE ratio of -626.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 1.89 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, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.54% and a positive return on equity of 20.53%. The company had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.13 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is presently -736.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on WTW. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of 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. Barclays reduced 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 report on Monday, July 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $367.11.

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.