Raymond James Financial Reiterates Strong-Buy Rating for Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW)

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW)‘s stock had its “strong-buy” rating reaffirmed by analysts at Raymond James Financial in a research report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $400.00 price target on the stock, up from their prior price target of $380.00. Raymond James Financial’s price objective points to a potential upside of 17.35% from the stock’s current price.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $351.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research raised Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Barclays cut their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $355.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $362.92.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $340.85 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 1 year low of $286.35 and a 1 year high of $344.14. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $325.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $317.63. The company has a market cap of $33.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 233.46, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.71.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public’s quarterly revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 4.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its position 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 valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its position 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 valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

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.