Polen Capital Management LLC Invests $40.28 Million in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Polen Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 128,586 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $40,278,000. Polen Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.13% of Willis Towers Watson Public as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% in 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 period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95.5% in 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 period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at $76,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on 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. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Truist Financial restated a "buy" rating and issued a $380.00 price objective (up previously from $365.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded 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. Finally, Raymond James upgraded 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $346.15.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

WTW stock remained flat at $334.51 during mid-day trading on Thursday. 418,112 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 502,148. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $325.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $311.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a market cap of $33.35 billion, a PE ratio of -334.51, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1 year low of $245.04 and a 1 year high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $7.44 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.10%. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -368.00%.

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.