Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC Boosts Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 33.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 115,169 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 28,613 shares during the quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC owned about 0.11% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $36,076,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $49,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth $72,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 36.7% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 324 shares of the company's stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 0.3%

WTW stock traded up $0.95 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $309.02. 372,316 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 585,610. The company has a market cap of $30.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -309.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.98. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1-year low of $248.09 and a 1-year high of $344.14. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $317.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $319.38.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The company had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.29 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.13 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 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 1.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -736.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WTW. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, UBS Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $356.30.

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.