Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Hits New 12-Month High on Strong Earnings

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as high as $303.50 and last traded at $303.50, with a volume of 1780 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $293.54.

The company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.28 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 18.57% and a negative net margin of 7.36%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.24 EPS.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th were paid a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 30th. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.18%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -48.35%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on WTW. UBS Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $320.00 to $323.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Roth Mkm upped their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $275.00 to $272.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $321.00 to $334.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $309.47.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 520.3% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 417,427 shares of the company’s stock valued at $114,765,000 after acquiring an additional 350,135 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 17.8% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,728,554 shares of the company’s stock valued at $453,123,000 after purchasing an additional 261,562 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.5% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,006,728 shares of the company’s stock worth $263,904,000 after purchasing an additional 185,126 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 456.5% in the second quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 198,389 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,006,000 after buying an additional 162,741 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 161.4% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 190,101 shares of the company’s stock valued at $50,032,000 after buying an additional 117,372 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 1.0 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $291.95 and a 200-day moving average of $273.16. The stock has a market cap of $30.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -41.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a current ratio of 1.72.

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.