Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Upgraded by Jefferies Financial Group to Buy Rating

Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Friday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has $382.00 target price on the stock, up from their prior target price of $352.00.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Roth Mkm upped their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays upped 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. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of 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. Raymond James raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $365.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $359.00 to $378.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $326.33.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

NASDAQ WTW traded up $6.57 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $317.57. 1,952,339 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 518,709. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $307.95 and a 200-day moving average of $287.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Willis Towers Watson Public has a one year low of $234.88 and a one year high of $334.99. The stock has a market cap of $31.99 billion, a PE ratio of -43.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.74.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.11%. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is -48.35%.

Institutional Trading of Willis Towers Watson Public

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Graypoint LLC raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 820 shares of the company's stock valued at $215,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.1% during the third quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,223 shares of the company's stock worth $357,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 1,419 shares of the company's stock valued at $418,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 13,147 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,446,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.2% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 237 shares of the company's stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.