Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW Shares Purchased by Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

Key Points

• Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 52.0% in Q2, now holding 3,863 shares worth approximately $1,184,000.
• Willis Towers Watson reported an EPS of $2.86 for the last quarter, surpassing expectations and showing a slight revenue decline of 0.2% year-over-year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, with a high dividend payout ratio of 252.05%, and announced a share buyback program of $1.50 billion.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 52.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,863 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,322 shares during the quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $1,184,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% in the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 0.1%

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $336.62 on Tuesday. 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 business's 50 day moving average is $334.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $318.60. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52 week low of $287.05 and a 52 week high of $352.79. The company has a market cap of $32.84 billion, a PE ratio of 230.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.73.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 company had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. Willis Towers Watson Public's quarterly revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, 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 business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is presently 252.05%.

Willis Towers Watson Public announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on WTW shares. Wolfe Research upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $366.00 to $372.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $395.00 to $398.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $369.00 to $387.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note 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, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $369.42.

About Willis Towers Watson Public

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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