Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Upgraded to Buy at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have $382.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $352.00.

WTW has been the subject of a number of other reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $334.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. UBS Group raised Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $359.00 to $378.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Roth Mkm lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $326.33.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

NASDAQ WTW opened at $317.57 on Friday. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 1-year low of $234.88 and a 1-year high of $334.99. The company has a market cap of $31.99 billion, a PE ratio of -43.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.74. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $308.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $287.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.72.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.24 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 16.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -48.35%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WTW. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter worth $41,000. New Millennium Group LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 2nd quarter valued at $54,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.2% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 237 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LRI Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 29.9% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 274 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.