Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Shares Sold by World Investment Advisors

World Investment Advisors trimmed its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW - Free Report) by 99.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,063 shares of the company's stock after selling 134,744 shares during the quarter. World Investment Advisors' holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $333,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter worth about $484,210,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6,676.1% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 988,430 shares of the company's stock worth $309,616,000 after acquiring an additional 973,843 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 33,979.6% during the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 458,370 shares of the company's stock valued at $143,580,000 after acquiring an additional 457,025 shares in the last quarter. Canoe Financial LP acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $47,883,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1,515.0% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 146,493 shares of the company's stock worth $45,890,000 after purchasing an additional 137,422 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company's stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on WTW. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $387.00 target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. 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 research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target 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, UBS Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $346.38.

Insider Activity

In other Willis Towers Watson Public 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 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. The trade was a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

WTW traded up $3.72 on Monday, reaching $325.46. 73,280 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 559,067. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a twelve month low of $245.04 and a twelve month high of $344.14. The stock has a market cap of $32.45 billion, a PE ratio of -325.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. 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's fifty day moving average price is $326.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $315.87.

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 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $7.44 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The business 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 dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date is 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 payout ratio is currently -368.00%.

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.