Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Holdings Cut by Mariner LLC

Mariner LLC decreased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 5.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,926 shares of the company's stock after selling 917 shares during the period. Mariner LLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $5,302,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 187,267 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,156,000 after acquiring an additional 37,340 shares during the last quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter valued at $993,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.7% during the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 4,135 shares of the company's stock worth $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the third quarter worth about $39,999,000. Finally, Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 146.4% in the 4th quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC now owns 12,932 shares of the company's stock worth $4,051,000 after purchasing an additional 7,683 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WTW traded up $1.00 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $325.68. The company had a trading volume of 922,800 shares, compared to its average volume of 568,259. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 52 week low of $245.04 and a 52 week high of $344.14. The business's 50-day moving average is $327.02 and its 200 day moving average is $317.13. The company has a market cap of $32.47 billion, a P/E ratio of -325.68, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.98.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. This represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WTW has been the subject of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $387.00 price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $346.38.

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.