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

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

Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WTW opened at $329.83 on Friday. 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 firm has a 50-day moving average of $316.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $299.12. The stock has a market cap of $33.22 billion, a P/E ratio of -45.31, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.74. Willis Towers Watson Public has a 1-year low of $242.54 and a 1-year high of $334.99.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.28 billion. Willis Towers Watson Public had a negative net margin of 7.36% and a positive return on equity of 18.57%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.24 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 16.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a $0.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.07%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s payout ratio is currently -48.35%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on WTW. Raymond James raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $365.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Barclays upped their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $278.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Evercore ISI upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $357.00 to $373.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on Willis Towers Watson Public from $378.00 to $387.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Willis Towers Watson Public from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $352.00 to $382.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $333.64.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Willis Towers Watson Public

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 121.1% during the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 126 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter worth about $41,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 95.5% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the fourth quarter worth about $72,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.