Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Purchases 2,473 Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW)

Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) by 55.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,902 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,473 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund’s holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public were worth $2,162,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mizuho Securities USA LLC boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 95,880.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 7,569,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,229,298,000 after buying an additional 7,561,114 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,629,439 shares of the company’s stock worth $772,027,000 after buying an additional 19,623 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,416,455 shares of the company’s stock worth $711,718,000 after buying an additional 48,384 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of 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 last quarter. Finally, Baupost Group LLC MA boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA now owns 1,781,206 shares of the company’s stock valued at $524,619,000 after purchasing an additional 128,558 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of NASDAQ WTW opened at $339.65 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $320.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $306.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -339.65, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.74. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 12-month low of $245.04 and a 12-month high of $339.89.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.01 by $0.12. 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 $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.05 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.44 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 17.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.92 dividend. This is a positive change from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio is -368.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total value of $1,136,245.68. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $24,986,996.09. This represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on WTW shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $352.00 to $382.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and set a $380.00 price objective (up previously from $365.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $342.08.

Willis Towers Watson Public Company 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.