New York State Common Retirement Fund Cuts Position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

New York State Common Retirement Fund decreased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 12.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 87,270 shares of the company’s stock after selling 11,864 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $21,050,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Garrison Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $229,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 16,457 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,969,000 after acquiring an additional 665 shares in the last quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 281.5% in the fourth quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 248 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. abrdn plc grew its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 67.1% in the fourth quarter. abrdn plc now owns 43,754 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,553,000 after acquiring an additional 17,565 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $233,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Willis Towers Watson Public stock opened at $250.95 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $25.66 billion, a PE ratio of 25.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $269.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $251.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.45. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12 month low of $195.29 and a 12 month high of $278.86.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.21 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $2.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.37 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a net margin of 10.88% and a return on equity of 16.31%. The firm’s revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.84 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, March 31st were paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.40%. This is a boost from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.84. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 27th. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.31%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $316.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $275.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $236.00 to $315.00 in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $315.00 price target (up previously from $295.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Thursday, March 28th. Finally, Roth Mkm raised their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $293.43.

Insider Buying and Selling at Willis Towers Watson Public

In other Willis Towers Watson Public news, CFO Andrew Jay Krasner sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.13, for a total value of $299,343.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,170 shares in the company, valued at $1,134,782.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.