UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC Raises Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 10.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 936,390 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 91,973 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $293,315,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of WTW. Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.7% in the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 4,135 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,364,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Sunriver Management LLC raised its position 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 worth $55,013,000 after purchasing an additional 1,223 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 239.9% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 44,831 shares of the company’s stock worth $14,043,000 after purchasing an additional 31,643 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at about $263,000. Finally, Longboard Asset Management LP purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter worth about $245,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on WTW shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays upped their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded 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 research note on Tuesday, March 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $351.55.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of WTW opened at $310.83 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $318.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $319.30. The firm has a market cap of $30.82 billion, a PE ratio of -310.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1-year low of $248.09 and a 1-year high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.13 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is currently -736.00%.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The shares were 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. The trade was a 4.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.32% of the company’s stock.

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.