Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Shares Sold by Barclays PLC

Barclays PLC cut its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 9.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 269,533 shares of the company's stock after selling 29,332 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned about 0.27% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $79,386,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the third quarter worth approximately $10,935,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 30,835 shares of the company's stock worth $9,082,000 after buying an additional 1,660 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.1% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 3,096 shares of the company's stock worth $912,000 after buying an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.5% during the third quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 7,884 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,322,000 after buying an additional 752 shares during the period. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the third quarter valued at about $39,999,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $1.47 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $308.37. The company had a trading volume of 481,180 shares, compared to its average volume of 506,911. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $305.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $285.05. The stock has a market cap of $31.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.36, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12-month low of $234.01 and a 12-month high of $334.99.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.25. Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 7.36% and a positive return on equity of 18.57%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.28 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.24 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be issued a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is presently -48.35%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on WTW shares. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $380.00 price objective (up previously from $365.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Roth Mkm increased their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $334.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $359.00 to $378.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $321.80.

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.