Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 68 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. trimmed its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) by 1.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,604 shares of the company’s stock after selling 68 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $1,218,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WTW. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 15.6% in the 1st quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 36,129 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,210,000 after buying an additional 4,878 shares during the period. Avanza Fonder AB bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter worth about $2,201,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 20.1% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,981 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,007,000 after acquiring an additional 499 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 51.5% during the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 491 shares of the company’s stock worth $165,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Finally, Portside Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 41.0% during the first quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $399,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Shares of WTW stock opened at $297.79 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a current ratio of 1.89. The firm has a market cap of $29.53 billion, a P/E ratio of -595.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.70. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $310.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $318.29. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a one year low of $254.88 and a one year high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.53% and a negative net margin of 0.54%. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.13 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.24%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -736.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $371.00 to $366.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $356.30.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,600 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.75, for a total value of $505,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 11,982 shares in the company, valued at $3,783,316.50. This represents a 11.78% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.