Prudential PLC Boosts Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Prudential PLC increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 48.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,671 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,387 shares during the quarter. Prudential PLC’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $6,162,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WTW. Westpac Banking Corp lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 106.9% during the fourth quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 1,026 shares of the company’s stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 530 shares during the last quarter. Cinctive Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,256,000. Huntington National Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 20,430 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,399,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Groupama Asset Managment acquired a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,077,000. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth approximately $12,508,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 7.1 %

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $308.80 on Friday. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12 month low of $245.04 and a 12 month high of $344.14. The company’s 50 day moving average is $329.30 and its 200-day moving average is $314.72. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a market cap of $30.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -308.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.01 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $7.44 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.19%. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is currently -368.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WTW has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Evercore ISI raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $357.00 to $373.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $352.00 to $382.00 in a research report on Friday, December 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $346.15.

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.