Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Stock Holdings Raised by Rafferty Asset Management LLC

Rafferty Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 35,543 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,112 shares during the period. Rafferty Asset Management LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $11,133,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of WTW. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter worth $49,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter valued at about $76,000. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 1.1%

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $3.35 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $307.48. 118,316 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 581,663. The company has a market cap of $30.49 billion, a PE ratio of -307.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. 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's fifty day moving average price is $318.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $319.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72.

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). The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.13 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be issued a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.20%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is currently -736.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WTW has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $351.55.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other Willis Towers Watson Public news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.