Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Shares Sold by State of Tennessee Department of Treasury

State of Tennessee Department of Treasury reduced its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 4.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 42,897 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,868 shares during the quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury's holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $13,437,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of WTW. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 24.9% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 187,267 shares of the company's stock worth $55,156,000 after acquiring an additional 37,340 shares during the period. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth approximately $993,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 4,135 shares of the company's stock worth $1,364,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Sunriver Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Sunriver Management LLC now owns 175,627 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,013,000 after buying an additional 1,223 shares during the period. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the third quarter valued at approximately $39,999,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock opened at $324.68 on Wednesday. The firm's 50-day moving average is $327.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $317.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.37 billion, a P/E ratio of -324.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12-month low of $245.04 and a 12-month 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 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.01 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion during 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 firm's revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $7.44 EPS. Equities analysts predict 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -368.00%.

Insider Activity

In other 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 sale, the insider now owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on WTW. 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. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $387.00 price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Willis Towers Watson Public from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $357.00 to $373.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $346.38.

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.

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