Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW Stock Holdings Lowered by Acadian Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Acadian Asset Management LLC reduced its holdings in Willis Towers Watson by 55% during Q1, now owning 55,026 shares worth approximately $18.6 million.
• The company reported an EPS of $2.86 for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations by $0.21, along with a revenue of $2.26 billion.
• Willis Towers Watson announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92, with an annualized yield of 1.1%, despite having a payout ratio of 252.05%.

Acadian Asset Management LLC reduced its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 55.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 55,026 shares of the company's stock after selling 67,384 shares during the quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned 0.06% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $18,588,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 38.6% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 140 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 67.3% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 465 shares of the company's stock worth $157,000 after purchasing an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 953,544 shares of the company's stock worth $322,250,000 after purchasing an additional 17,154 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter worth approximately $60,390,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 16.9% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 2,400 shares of the company's stock worth $811,000 after purchasing an additional 347 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Shares of WTW opened at $340.45 on Friday. The company's 50 day moving average price is $320.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $317.72. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52 week low of $286.00 and a 52 week high of $344.14. The company has a market capitalization of $33.21 billion, a PE ratio of 233.19, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90.

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 analysts' consensus estimates 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 the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Research 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 will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be given a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is currently 252.05%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped 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 research report on Thursday, July 10th. Barclays dropped their target price 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. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.

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