Brandes Investment Partners LP Acquires 15,041 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Brandes Investment Partners LP raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 5.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 283,543 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 15,041 shares during the period. Brandes Investment Partners LP owned approximately 0.28% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $88,817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased its position 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 valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at about $49,000. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95.5% during the 4th 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 last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at about $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at about $76,000. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The stock was 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 directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

WTW has been the subject of several research reports. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $380.00 target price (up from $365.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $357.00 to $373.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Raymond James raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $365.00 to $400.00 in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $352.00 to $382.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $342.08.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WTW traded up $5.51 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $324.61. 627,380 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 502,666. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.36 billion, a PE ratio of -324.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a one year low of $245.04 and a one year high of $344.14. The company's 50 day moving average is $323.94 and its 200 day moving average is $310.60.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $8.01 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.44 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This is an increase from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.13%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -368.00%.

Willis Towers Watson Public 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.