Trexquant Investment LP Sells 20,513 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• Trexquant Investment LP has reduced its stake in Willis Towers Watson by 51.4%, now holding 19,418 shares valued at approximately $6.56 million.
• Willis Towers Watson announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92, with a projected annualized yield of 1.1%, despite a high payout ratio of 252.05%.
• Analysts have varied price targets for the stock, with the average target at $362.92 and a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy".

Trexquant Investment LP trimmed its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 51.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,418 shares of the company's stock after selling 20,513 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $6,562,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.4% during the first quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,856,440 shares of the company's stock worth $965,334,000 after purchasing an additional 67,898 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 7.0% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,057,635 shares of the company's stock worth $357,428,000 after purchasing an additional 69,205 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 40,489.4% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,007,429 shares of the company's stock worth $340,461,000 after purchasing an additional 1,004,947 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.9% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 936,390 shares of the company's stock worth $293,315,000 after purchasing an additional 91,973 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6,286.4% during the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 862,869 shares of the company's stock worth $270,284,000 after purchasing an additional 849,358 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

NASDAQ WTW traded down $1.33 on Tuesday, reaching $325.46. The company's stock had a trading volume of 537,343 shares, compared to its average volume of 548,354. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a twelve month low of $283.29 and a twelve month 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. The stock has a market cap of $31.75 billion, a PE ratio of 222.92, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.71. The firm's 50 day moving average is $317.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $317.34.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be issued a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 252.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on WTW. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price target for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Barclays dropped 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 note on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $362.92.

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.