Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Sets New 52-Week High on Analyst Upgrade

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday after Piper Sandler raised their price target on the stock from $369.00 to $387.00. Piper Sandler currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Willis Towers Watson Public traded as high as $352.79 and last traded at $349.33, with a volume of 24239 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $349.40.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on WTW. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $366.00 to $372.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $351.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $358.00 to $377.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $400.00 target price (up previously from $380.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $368.75.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 750.0% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 85 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings 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 worth $36,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 0.2%

The stock has a market capitalization of $34.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 239.68, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $332.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $318.73.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.23 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 1.40% and a return on equity of 21.60%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

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

Willis Towers Watson Public announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, September 18th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to purchase up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

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.