Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Receives $342.08 Average Target Price from Analysts

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the thirteen brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $342.08.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $357.00 to $373.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $352.00 to $382.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WTW opened at $324.61 on Thursday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $32.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -324.61, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $323.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $310.45. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 52-week low of $245.04 and a 52-week high of $344.14.

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Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $8.01 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.05 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $7.44 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WTW. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. GeoWealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

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.

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