Analysts Set Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Target Price at $351.55

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the eleven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $351.55.

Several research firms recently issued reports on WTW. Barclays increased their target price on 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. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced 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 report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other Willis Towers Watson Public news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WTW. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter valued at $630,000. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.0% in the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 10,282 shares of the company's stock worth $3,028,000 after buying an additional 583 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 25.9% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 24,273 shares of the company's stock worth $7,103,000 after buying an additional 4,988 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 128,273 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,780,000 after buying an additional 8,228 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 24.9% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 187,267 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,156,000 after acquiring an additional 37,340 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

WTW stock traded down $1.53 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $306.02. The stock had a trading volume of 816,050 shares, compared to its average volume of 579,760. The company has a market cap of $30.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -306.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 52-week low of $248.09 and a 52-week high of $344.14. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $322.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $318.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 earnings per share (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 company had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.13 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

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

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.