Balyasny Asset Management L.P. Sells 134,993 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Balyasny Asset Management L.P. cut its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 96.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,632 shares of the company’s stock after selling 134,993 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P.’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $1,451,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bamco Inc. NY boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 96,358 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,183,000 after buying an additional 1,063 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 1,475 shares of the company’s stock valued at $462,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 24.5% in the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 231,931 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,650,000 after buying an additional 45,599 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 94.4% in the fourth quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 585 shares of the company’s stock valued at $183,000 after buying an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atalan Capital Partners LP lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 90.0% during the fourth quarter. Atalan Capital Partners LP now owns 475,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $148,789,000 after purchasing an additional 225,000 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NASDAQ:WTW opened at $304.21 on Wednesday. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 52 week low of $248.09 and a 52 week high of $344.14. 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 company has a market capitalization of $30.16 billion, a PE ratio of -304.21, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $320.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $318.86.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.27 by ($0.14). Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 0.99% and a positive return on equity of 20.02%. The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.13 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This is an increase from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio is presently -736.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The shares were 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 owns 74,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. This represents a 4.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.32% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WTW has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $344.00 to $395.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced 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 research report on Monday, April 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $351.55.

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.