UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC Has $322.25 Million Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

Key Points

• UBS Asset Management increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson by 1.8%, owning nearly 1 million shares valued at approximately $322 million after acquiring additional shares in the first quarter.
• The company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the last quarter, exceeding analyst estimates and had a revenue of $2.26 billion, slightly above expectations.
• Willis Towers Watson announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, with an upcoming payment on October 15, representing an annualized yield of 1.1%.

UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 1.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 953,544 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 17,154 shares during the quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC owned about 0.96% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $322,250,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WTW. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,368 shares of the company's stock valued at $429,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 25.1% in the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,242 shares of the company's stock valued at $702,000 after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.9% in the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 10,507 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,291,000 after acquiring an additional 1,961 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 29.4% in the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 1,972 shares of the company's stock worth $621,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares during the period. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,868 shares of the company's stock worth $3,091,000 after purchasing an additional 498 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on WTW. 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 target price on the stock. Barclays reduced 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 note on Monday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of 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. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target 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. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $362.92.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of NASDAQ WTW traded down $1.66 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $338.79. The company had a trading volume of 417,870 shares, compared to its average volume of 451,398. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 1-year low of $286.00 and a 1-year 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. The firm's 50 day moving average is $321.58 and its 200-day moving average is $317.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 232.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.71.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share (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 last year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. Willis Towers Watson Public's revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

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

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.