Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) Given New $340.00 Price Target at Wells Fargo & Company

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) had its target price raised by Wells Fargo & Company from $334.00 to $340.00 in a research report released on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on WTW. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $295.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $275.00 to $272.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Roth Mkm increased their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set an “underweight” rating and a $278.00 price target on the stock. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $312.27.

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Up 3.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:WTW opened at $317.31 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The stock has a market cap of $31.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a 50 day moving average of $293.26 and a 200-day moving average of $274.26. Willis Towers Watson Public has a one year low of $234.00 and a one year high of $320.10.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 previous year, the company posted $2.24 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 16.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th were paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 30th. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is -48.35%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95,880.2% during the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 7,569,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,229,298,000 after purchasing an additional 7,561,114 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings 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 worth $589,698,000 after buying an additional 10,856 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 17.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,728,554 shares of the company’s stock valued at $453,123,000 after buying an additional 261,562 shares during the last quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 6.2% in the second quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA now owns 1,652,648 shares of the company’s stock valued at $433,225,000 after buying an additional 96,981 shares during the period. Finally, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.6% during the second quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 1,122,475 shares of the company’s stock worth $294,246,000 after acquiring an additional 39,288 shares during the last quarter. 93.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.