Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $368.6154.

Several brokerages have recently commented on WTW. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $400.00 price target (up previously from $380.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Citigroup initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $351.00 target price on the stock. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $408.00 to $391.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 10th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $395.00 to $398.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 15th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Alpine Bank Wealth Management acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. lifted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 8,200.0% in the third quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 83 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the period. Raiffeisen Bank International AG acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Quent Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% in the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

WTW stock opened at $317.52 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $330.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $320.30. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 52-week low of $292.97 and a 52-week high of $352.79. The company has a market capitalization of $30.40 billion, a PE ratio of 217.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.69. 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 (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $3.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.02. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.28 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.93 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th were issued a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.52%.

Willis Towers Watson Public declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

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.