Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Upgraded by Mizuho to Strong-Buy Rating

Mizuho upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $395.00 to $398.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $362.00 to $356.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 12th. Barclays lowered their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $341.00 to $303.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $387.00 to $356.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $367.23.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

WTW traded up $0.08 on Monday, reaching $329.84. 93,147 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 634,654. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $324.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $321.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.58 billion, a PE ratio of 15.70, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.63. Willis Towers Watson Public has a fifty-two week low of $292.97 and a fifty-two week high of $352.79.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $3.07 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.02. Willis Towers Watson Public had a return on equity of 21.46% and a net margin of 21.58%.The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.93 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public’s revenue for the quarter was up .0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, September 18th that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to buy up to 4.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.52%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,372,970 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,928,792,000 after buying an additional 103,784 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,238,308 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,912,041,000 after acquiring an additional 146,104 shares during the last quarter. Dodge & Cox lifted its stake in Willis Towers Watson Public by 184.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 3,632,191 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,254,740,000 after purchasing an additional 2,353,768 shares in the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 3,579,098 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,096,994,000 after purchasing an additional 62,570 shares during the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.4% in the first quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,856,440 shares of the company’s stock valued at $965,334,000 after purchasing an additional 67,898 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

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.