Prudential PLC Purchases 7,080 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Prudential PLC grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 81.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,810 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,080 shares during the period. Prudential PLC's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $4,144,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WTW. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at $300,782,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter worth approximately $107,010,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 520.3% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 417,427 shares of the company's stock valued at $114,765,000 after acquiring an additional 350,135 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 17.8% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,728,554 shares of the company's stock valued at $453,123,000 after acquiring an additional 261,562 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 5,568,252 shares of the company's stock worth $1,343,062,000 after acquiring an additional 158,234 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $3.56 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $288.08. The stock had a trading volume of 320,315 shares, compared to its average volume of 447,398. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a fifty-two week low of $201.41 and a fifty-two week high of $296.45. The company has a market cap of $29.45 billion, a PE ratio of 29.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a 50-day moving average of $277.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $267.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 1.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $2.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $2.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.27 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 16.97% and a net margin of 11.24%. Willis Towers Watson Public's quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.05 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.88 per share. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.22%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public's payout ratio is 35.31%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Roth Mkm upped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $320.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays began coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set an "underweight" rating and a $278.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $318.00 to $321.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $272.00 to $304.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $298.73.

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.