Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Shares Sold by Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc

Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc lessened its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 39.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,788 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,291 shares during the period. Willis Towers Watson Public comprises 1.3% of Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc's portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $4,945,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of WTW. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 31.3% in the 4th quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 87,946 shares of the company's stock worth $27,548,000 after purchasing an additional 20,984 shares during the last quarter. Ethic Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 9.6% in the 4th quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 13,798 shares of the company's stock worth $4,322,000 after purchasing an additional 1,208 shares during the last quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 52.2% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 2,201 shares of the company's stock worth $691,000 after purchasing an additional 755 shares during the last quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. now owns 225,667 shares of the company's stock worth $70,688,000 after purchasing an additional 3,325 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 19.1% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 375,675 shares of the company's stock worth $117,676,000 after purchasing an additional 60,167 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

WTW traded down $1.61 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $307.46. The company's stock had a trading volume of 487,797 shares, compared to its average volume of 581,320. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a fifty-two week low of $248.09 and a fifty-two week high of $344.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.48 billion, a PE ratio of -307.46, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $320.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $318.96.

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 the consensus estimate 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 business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.13 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. This is an increase from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is currently -736.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on WTW shares. Barclays raised their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. UBS Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $351.55.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

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

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.