Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Shares Sold by State of Tennessee Department of Treasury

State of Tennessee Department of Treasury reduced its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 4.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 42,897 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,868 shares during the period. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $13,437,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. GeoWealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its stake 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 purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth $49,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 174 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at $72,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ:WTW traded down $1.81 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $300.39. 262,341 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 571,139. The firm has a market cap of $29.95 billion, a P/E ratio of -300.13, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 52-week low of $248.09 and a 52-week high of $344.14. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $326.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $317.71. 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 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%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This is an increase from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.23%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -736.00%.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on WTW. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $387.00 price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $357.00 to $373.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays increased 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. UBS Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $350.00.

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.