Vanguard Group Inc. Has $3.87 Billion Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW)

Key Points

• Vanguard Group Inc. has increased its stock holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by 0.0%, now owning approximately 11.54% of the company, valued at about $3.87 billion.
• In recent insider activity, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of WTW at an average price of $315.75, representing a 11.78% decrease in his ownership.
• Despite a 0.2% decline in quarterly revenue year-over-year, Willis Towers Watson reported earnings of $2.86 per share, surpassing analyst estimates of $2.65.

Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 0.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,437,682 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,620 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 11.54% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $3,865,365,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 1,405 shares of the company's stock worth $440,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.9% during the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,408 shares of the company's stock worth $476,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.2% during the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 718 shares of the company's stock worth $243,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,197 shares of the company's stock worth $375,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on WTW shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on 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 sell rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $367.11.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of WTW stock traded up $2.65 during trading on Friday, hitting $327.85. The company had a trading volume of 829,659 shares, compared to its average volume of 741,886. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a current ratio of 1.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 224.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.67. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $307.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $316.46. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a one year low of $273.70 and a one year high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is presently 252.05%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Willis Towers Watson Public news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total transaction of $505,200.00. Following the completion of 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.