CX Institutional Decreases Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW

CX Institutional reduced its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) by 16.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 772 shares of the company’s stock after selling 156 shares during the period. CX Institutional’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $237,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter worth about $32,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% during the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter worth about $43,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Up 1.1%

NASDAQ WTW opened at $341.89 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 52 week low of $286.35 and a 52 week high of $345.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.35 billion, a PE ratio of 234.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.71. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $327.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $317.93.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.21. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The company had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is 252.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on WTW shares. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $355.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $351.00 price target on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $369.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $362.92.

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.