Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Given New $387.00 Price Target at Evercore ISI

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) had its price objective hoisted by Evercore ISI from $373.00 to $387.00 in a research note published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Wolfe Research raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $400.00 price objective (up from $380.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Monday, September 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, August 18th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $358.00 to $377.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Willis Towers Watson Public has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $367.09.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock opened at $344.10 on Wednesday. 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 fifty-two week low of $286.35 and a fifty-two week high of $346.27. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $329.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $318.41. The company has a market cap of $33.57 billion, a PE ratio of 235.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.73.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. The business’s revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 252.05%.

Willis Towers Watson Public announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, September 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 168.6% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 4,110 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,275,000 after acquiring an additional 2,580 shares in the last quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 8.7% in the 2nd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 10,828 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,319,000 after acquiring an additional 867 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.0% in the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 7,093 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,173,000 after acquiring an additional 643 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 37.7% in the 2nd quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 1,103 shares of the company’s stock valued at $348,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.1% in the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 3,333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

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.