Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company $WTW Stock Position Decreased by First Eagle Investment Management LLC

First Eagle Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:WTW) by 3.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,293,549 shares of the company’s stock after selling 137,824 shares during the period. Willis Towers Watson Public makes up about 2.6% of First Eagle Investment Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest holding. First Eagle Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $1,315,973,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its stake 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 worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 122.9% in the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 107 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. WPG Advisers LLC bought a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 1st quarter worth about $43,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 38.6% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 140 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 1st quarter valued at about $54,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 0.3%

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $322.20 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $30.85 billion, a PE ratio of 220.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $333.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $319.33. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company has a 12 month low of $292.97 and a 12 month high of $352.79.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $3.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.02. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 1.40%.The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.28 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.93 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company will post 17.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th were paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is currently 17.52%.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on WTW. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $356.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $377.00 to $382.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $382.00 to $373.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Wolfe Research upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $400.00 price target (up previously from $380.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $366.92.

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.