Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Stake Cut by Man Group plc

Man Group plc lowered its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 53.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 75,651 shares of the company's stock after selling 85,172 shares during the period. Man Group plc owned about 0.08% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $23,697,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. GeoWealth Management LLC raised 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 acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased 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 purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth about $49,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at about $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at about $76,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of WTW stock traded up $0.20 on Wednesday, hitting $312.94. The stock had a trading volume of 207,353 shares, compared to its average volume of 581,410. The stock's 50 day moving average is $318.85 and its 200-day moving average is $319.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -312.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 52-week low of $248.09 and a 52-week high of $344.14. 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 (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 earnings per share (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 business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.13 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.18%. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is currently -736.00%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The stock was 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 of the company's stock, 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on WTW. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced 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. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. One research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $351.55.

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.