Barclays Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Stock

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) had its target price upped by Barclays from $302.00 to $316.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “underweight” rating on the stock. Barclays‘s target price indicates a potential downside of 1.78% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $387.00 target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $357.00 to $373.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $346.38.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock opened at $321.74 on Friday. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 12-month low of $245.04 and a 12-month high of $344.14. 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 business’s 50 day moving average is $326.95 and its 200-day moving average is $315.69. The stock has a market cap of $32.08 billion, a P/E ratio of -321.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.01 by $0.12. Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The firm had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $7.44 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 74,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. This represents a 4.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.9% during the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 115 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the 4th quarter valued at about $49,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. 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.