Metis Global Partners LLC Boosts Holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Metis Global Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 2.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 6,022 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $1,774,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,002,167 shares of the company’s stock valued at $589,698,000 after purchasing an additional 10,856 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 17.8% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,728,554 shares of the company’s stock worth $453,123,000 after acquiring an additional 261,562 shares during the last quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA grew its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.2% during the second quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA now owns 1,652,648 shares of the company’s stock valued at $433,225,000 after acquiring an additional 96,981 shares in the last quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 1,122,475 shares of the company’s stock valued at $294,246,000 after acquiring an additional 39,288 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.5% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,006,728 shares of the company’s stock valued at $263,904,000 after purchasing an additional 185,126 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on WTW. Roth Mkm increased their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays began coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $278.00 price target on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $352.00 to $359.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $295.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $312.27.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

Shares of WTW opened at $312.65 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1-year low of $234.01 and a 1-year high of $320.77. The company has a 50-day moving average of $296.06 and a 200 day moving average of $276.48.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.25. Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 7.36% and a positive return on equity of 18.57%. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.24 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th were given a dividend of $0.88 per share. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio is presently -48.35%.

Willis Towers Watson Public 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.