Magnetar Financial LLC Decreases Stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Magnetar Financial LLC lowered its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 25.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,849 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,299 shares during the quarter. Magnetar Financial LLC’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $2,145,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WTW. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 3rd quarter worth about $262,000. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,417 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,301,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 14,240 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,194,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Pathstone Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 7,757 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the period. Finally, Caprock Group LLC boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.7% in the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 1,258 shares of the company’s stock worth $372,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Price Performance

Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock opened at $334.51 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $325.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $311.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.35 billion, a P/E ratio of -334.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a one year low of $245.04 and a one year high of $344.14.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.10%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is currently -368.00%.

Insider Activity at Willis Towers Watson Public

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of Willis Towers Watson Public stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. The trade was 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 this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on WTW shares. Barclays raised their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. UBS Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $352.00 to $382.00 in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Raymond James upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $365.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $346.15.

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.