The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company Sells 1,143 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company reduced its stake in Willis Towers Watson by 2.1%, selling 1,143 shares, and now owns 54,520 shares valued at $18.4 million.
• Willis Towers Watson reported an EPS of $2.86 for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations, with revenues of $2.26 billion, a decline of 0.2% year-over-year.
• The company plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, yielding 1.1%, with a payout ratio of 252.05%.

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lessened its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 2.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 54,520 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,143 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned 0.05% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $18,425,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WTW. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,368 shares of the company's stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. AXA S.A. raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 45.3% in the 4th quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 23,976 shares of the company's stock valued at $7,510,000 after purchasing an additional 7,479 shares during the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.4% in the 4th quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 585 shares of the company's stock valued at $183,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 24.5% in the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 231,931 shares of the company's stock valued at $72,650,000 after purchasing an additional 45,599 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 1,475 shares of the company's stock valued at $462,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.4%

NASDAQ WTW opened at $325.46 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $317.17 and a 200-day moving average of $317.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 222.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52 week low of $283.29 and a 52 week high of $344.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 1.40%.The business's revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is 252.05%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on WTW shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Citigroup started coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Barclays cut 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. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $362.92.

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.

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