State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D Decreases Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW)

Key Points

• The State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D has decreased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by 6.8%, holding 33,670 shares valued at approximately $11.4 million.
• In recent earnings, Willis Towers Watson reported $2.86 earnings per share, exceeding analyst expectations and demonstrating a slight revenue decline of 0.2% year-over-year.
• Analyst ratings for the stock indicate a current average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price around $364.55.

State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D cut its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 6.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 33,670 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,449 shares during the quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $11,379,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of WTW. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% in the first quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,018 shares of the company's stock valued at $682,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 1,405 shares of the company's stock valued at $440,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.9% in the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,408 shares of the company's stock valued at $476,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.2% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 718 shares of the company's stock valued at $243,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,197 shares of the company's stock valued at $375,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WTW opened at $330.50 on Friday. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a fifty-two week low of $279.08 and a fifty-two week high of $344.14. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $309.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $316.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The firm has a market cap of $32.24 billion, a PE ratio of 226.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.67.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.21. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 1.40%. The firm had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. Willis Towers Watson Public's quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on 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. 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 report on Monday, July 7th. 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 report on Thursday, July 10th. Citigroup initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $364.55.

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,783,316.50. The trade was a 11.78% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Company 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.

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