Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Shares Sold by Rockefeller Capital Management L.P.

Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. trimmed its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 41.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 126,697 shares of the company's stock after selling 90,811 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. owned 0.13% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $39,686,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 51.5% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 6,161 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,930,000 after purchasing an additional 2,095 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,559,000. APG Asset Management N.V. boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 245.0% in the 4th quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 79,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $23,898,000 after buying an additional 56,100 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 77.3% in the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 284,620 shares of the company's stock valued at $89,154,000 after buying an additional 124,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 75.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 91,237 shares of the company's stock worth $28,579,000 after acquiring an additional 39,261 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now owns 74,417 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded down $0.86 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $327.16. 553,568 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 562,379. The stock has a market cap of $32.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -327.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. The firm's 50 day moving average is $327.11 and its 200 day moving average is $316.19. 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 Limited has a 52-week low of $245.04 and a 52-week high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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. Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The firm had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.05 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $7.44 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.92 dividend. This is a boost from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -368.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on WTW shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $387.00 price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped 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 raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Evercore ISI raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $357.00 to $373.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $346.38.

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.