Magnetar Financial LLC Sells 5,565 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Magnetar Financial LLC trimmed its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 34.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,653 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,565 shares during the quarter. Magnetar Financial LLC’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $2,930,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. LRI Investments LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter valued at about $118,000. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 34.8% during the first quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 79,622 shares of the company’s stock valued at $21,896,000 after acquiring an additional 20,558 shares during the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.7% in the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 115,262 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,706,000 after buying an additional 3,021 shares during the period. Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC grew its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 30.0% in the first quarter. Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC now owns 13,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,575,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Seven Eight Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter worth approximately $808,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock traded up $5.49 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $283.09. 713,853 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 369,582. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1 year low of $195.29 and a 1 year high of $283.49. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $259.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $262.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.94 and a quick ratio of 1.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.73.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $2.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.27. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 16.97% and a net margin of 11.24%. The firm had revenue of $2.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.27 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.05 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 28th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on WTW shares. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $310.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $318.00 to $321.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $290.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Bank of America raised Willis Towers Watson Public from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their target price for the company from $272.00 to $304.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $312.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 29th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $299.36.

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.