Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Sets New 12-Month High - Time to Buy?

Key Points

• Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ: WTW) reached a new 52-week high of $344.56 recently, with significant trading volume.
• Wall Street analysts have varying ratings on the stock, with one strong buy and several target prices ranging from $345.00 to $400.00.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share and has initiated a share repurchase program worth $1.50 billion, indicating confidence in its stock value.

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $344.29 and last traded at $344.56, with a volume of 82707 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $340.85.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $400.00 target price (up previously from $380.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Monday. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $362.92.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $33.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 235.34, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $325.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $317.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 1.40%.The company's revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.55 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be issued a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 252.05%.

Willis Towers Watson Public declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, September 18th that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 168.6% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 4,110 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 2,580 shares during the last quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 8.7% in the 2nd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 10,828 shares of the company's stock worth $3,319,000 after acquiring an additional 867 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.0% in the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 7,093 shares of the company's stock worth $2,173,000 after acquiring an additional 643 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 37.7% in the 2nd quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 1,103 shares of the company's stock worth $348,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.1% in the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 3,333 shares of the company's stock worth $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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