Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Sets New 52-Week High After Analyst Upgrade

Key Points

• Willis Towers Watson's stock reached a new 52-week high of $346.04 following an upgrade from Wells Fargo, which raised its price target from $358 to $377 and maintains an overweight rating.
• The company recently announced a $1.50 billion stock repurchase program, aiming to buy back up to 4.6% of its shares, indicating confidence in its valuation.
• Willis Towers Watson reported earnings of $2.86 per share for its last quarter, surpassing analyst expectations, alongside a revenue of $2.26 billion, slightly below the previous year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday after Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on the stock from $358.00 to $377.00. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Willis Towers Watson Public traded as high as $346.04 and last traded at $344.56, with a volume of 67195 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $341.28.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $400.00 price objective (up previously from $380.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Monday, September 22nd. Barclays decreased their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $351.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $364.08.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Quadcap Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 4.8% in the second quarter. Quadcap Wealth Management LLC now owns 747 shares of the company's stock valued at $229,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% in the first quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,018 shares of the company's stock valued at $682,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.1% in the second quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 392 shares of the company's stock valued at $120,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 38.6% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 140 shares of the company's stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.9% in the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,408 shares of the company's stock valued at $476,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Up 1.0%

The business's 50-day moving average price is $328.29 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $318.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90. The firm has a market cap of $33.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 236.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.71.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is 252.05%.

Willis Towers Watson Public declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 4.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

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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