Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,410,000 shares, a growth of 38.2% from the December 15th total of 1,020,000 shares. Currently, 1.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 670,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days.

Institutional Trading of Willis Towers Watson Public

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,223 shares of the company’s stock worth $357,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 12.7% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 337 shares of the company’s stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.1% during the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 1,419 shares of the company’s stock worth $418,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 0.3% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 13,147 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,446,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 22.2% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 237 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.09% of the company’s stock.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Up 2.8 %

NASDAQ WTW opened at $322.12 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -44.25, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.74. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 52 week low of $242.54 and a 52 week high of $334.99. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $314.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $294.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.72.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 business 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. The firm’s revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 16.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.09%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio is currently -48.35%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on WTW shares. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. UBS Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Raymond James upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $365.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $380.00 target price (up previously from $365.00) on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Roth Mkm upped their price target on shares of 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $333.64.

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.