Acadian Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 520.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 417,427 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 350,135 shares during the quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned about 0.41% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $114,765,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 116,615 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,069,000 after acquiring an additional 7,404 shares during the period. Gillson Capital LP boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 27.3% during the 4th quarter. Gillson Capital LP now owns 253,591 shares of the company's stock valued at $61,166,000 after acquiring an additional 54,361 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 12.5% during the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 114,487 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,614,000 after acquiring an additional 12,678 shares during the period. Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 60.0% during the 4th quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 74,799 shares of the company's stock valued at $18,042,000 after acquiring an additional 28,046 shares during the period. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter worth $4,455,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 1.3 %

NASDAQ:WTW traded down $3.51 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $263.13. 363,398 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 412,256. The company has a fifty day moving average of $257.98 and a 200 day moving average of $261.05. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a twelve month low of $195.29 and a twelve month high of $278.86. The company has a market capitalization of $26.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a current ratio of 1.89.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.21 by $0.08. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 16.31% and a net margin of 10.88%. The company had revenue of $2.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.37 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.84 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.27 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 15th. Investors of record on Sunday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.88 per share. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.34%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 28th. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on WTW. Bank of America upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $272.00 to $304.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Raymond James reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $315.00 target price (up from $295.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $290.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $297.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $317.00 to $318.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, June 20th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $296.29.

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.