Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Hits New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $342.17 and last traded at $340.36, with a volume of 535361 shares. The stock had previously closed at $339.65.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Raymond James upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and raised their price target for the company from $365.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $380.00 price target (up from $365.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $352.00 to $382.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $342.08.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Up 0.2 %

The stock has a market cap of $33.93 billion, a P/E ratio of -340.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.98. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $321.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $307.81.

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.08%. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is presently -368.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. This trade represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Willis Towers Watson Public

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 23.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,920 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,449,000 after purchasing an additional 920 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 13,031 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,838,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.2% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 237 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 10.1% during the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 109,103 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,134,000 after purchasing an additional 9,970 shares during the period. Finally, Intact Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,150 shares of the company’s stock worth $928,000 after buying an additional 250 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.