Russell Investments Group Ltd. Decreases Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. trimmed its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 17.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 254,207 shares of the company's stock after selling 53,361 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned 0.25% of Willis Towers Watson Public worth $79,628,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Benjamin Edwards Inc. bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $413,000. Centiva Capital LP bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter worth $490,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 18.4% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 13,511 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,978,000 after buying an additional 2,100 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 19.2% during the 3rd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 4,259 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,255,000 after acquiring an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 17.5% in the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 13,569 shares of the company's stock worth $3,997,000 after acquiring an additional 2,025 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total value of $1,136,245.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded up $3.87 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $320.51. The company's stock had a trading volume of 187,609 shares, compared to its average volume of 558,605. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12-month low of $245.04 and a 12-month high of $344.14. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $326.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $315.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.98. The company has a market capitalization of $31.95 billion, a P/E ratio of -320.56, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.01 by $0.12. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.44 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side 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 company 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. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.15%. This is a boost from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio is presently -368.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on WTW. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $352.00 to $382.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. Evercore ISI upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $357.00 to $373.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $387.00 target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday. 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 assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $346.15.

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.