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

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC raised its stake 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 buying an additional 35 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 35.6% in the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,208 shares of the company's stock valued at $408,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 124.2% during the first quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,941 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,670,000 after purchasing an additional 2,737 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,108 shares of the company's stock worth $4,768,000 after purchasing an additional 2,596 shares during the period. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter worth about $406,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 0.6%

WTW traded down $1.87 on Tuesday, hitting $331.83. 88,238 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 633,555. 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 firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $322.15 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $317.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.37 billion, a PE ratio of 227.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 12 month low of $286.00 and a 12 month high of $344.14.

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, topping 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 firm had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. The business's revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be given 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 yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is presently 252.05%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently commented on WTW. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on 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. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of 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, Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $362.92.

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.