Swiss National Bank Decreases Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW)

Key Points

• The Swiss National Bank has reduced its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by 1.0%, selling 2,900 shares, and now holds approximately 284,010 shares valued at about $95.98 million.
• The company's stock recently opened at $327.85, with a market capitalization of $31.98 billion and a current ratio of 1.90.
• Willis Towers Watson Public declared a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, representing an annualized dividend of $3.68, with a payout ratio of 252.05%.

Swiss National Bank reduced its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 1.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 284,010 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,900 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned 0.29% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $95,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of WTW. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% in the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of WTW traded down $3.83 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $330.86. The company had a trading volume of 555,104 shares, compared to its average volume of 656,951. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $308.37 and a 200-day moving average price of $316.71. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $32.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 226.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.67. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52-week low of $279.08 and a 52-week high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results 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 company had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public's revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is 252.05%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on WTW shares. Barclays lowered their price objective on 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. Wells Fargo & Company cut 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. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $364.55.

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 value of $505,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 11,982 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,783,316.50. This represents a 11.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.