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Virtu Financial LLC Takes Position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW)

Willis Towers Watson Public logo with Finance background

Key Points

  • Virtu Financial LLC has acquired 3,821 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, valued at approximately $1.29 million, during the first quarter.
  • Multiple hedge funds have increased their stakes in Willis Towers Watson, with Polen Capital Management boosting its stake by 185.1% during the same period.
  • Willis Towers Watson's board has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, resulting in an annualized yield of 1.1%, despite a high payout ratio of 252.05%.
  • Want stock alerts on Willis Towers Watson Public? Get 5 Weeks of MarketBeat All Access for $5. Get My Stock Alerts.

Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 3,821 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,291,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WTW has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of 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. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup started coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $364.55.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on WTW

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total transaction of $505,200.00. Following the sale, 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:WTW traded down $4.69 during trading on Thursday, reaching $330.00. 958,926 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 659,664. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.19 billion, a PE ratio of 226.03, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.67. The company's 50 day moving average is $308.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $316.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52 week low of $279.08 and a 52 week high of $344.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.21. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The business had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. The company'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 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued 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%.

About Willis Towers Watson Public

(Free Report)

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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Institutional Ownership by Quarter for Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW)

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