Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Hits New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $342.17 and last traded at $340.36, with a volume of 535361 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $339.65.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on WTW shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective 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. Barclays raised their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Raymond James raised Willis Towers Watson Public from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $365.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $352.00 to $382.00 in a research note on Friday, December 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $342.08.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 0.9 %

The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $322.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $308.38. The firm has a market cap of $33.05 billion, a P/E ratio of -330.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.44 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.11%. This is an increase from Willis Towers Watson Public's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -368.00%.

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total value of $1,136,245.68. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WTW. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. GeoWealth Management LLC grew 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 valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased 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 worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 3rd quarter worth $41,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.