Sheets Smith Investment Management Acquires Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited

In the fourth quarter, Sheets Smith Investment Management took a significant step by acquiring a new position in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited, which is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol WTW. According to its recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the firm purchased 4,203 shares valued at approximately $1,317,000.

Other institutional investors have also been active in adjusting their stakes in Willis Towers Watson. Notably, UBS Asset Management Americas LLC significantly increased its holdings during the third quarter by 277.8%. The firm now owns 844,417 shares worth around $248.7 million after adding an impressive 620,926 shares to its portfolio. Similarly, Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec has made remarkable gains, raising its position by 47,515.7% during the same quarter, now holding 499,965 shares valued at $147.3 million after acquiring 498,915 additional shares.

Proficio Capital Partners LLC made a substantial increase as well, boosting its ownership by 33,979.6% in the fourth quarter, accumulating 458,370 shares worth $143.6 million, following an addition of 457,025 shares. Meanwhile, Canoe Financial LP and Cidel Asset Management Inc. made new investments in Willis Towers Watson during the fourth quarter, valued at approximately $47.9 million and $42.9 million, respectively. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds control 93.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares on February 28. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.77, totaling around $1,136,245.68. After this transaction, Gebauer holds 74,417 shares valued at approximately $24.99 million, representing a decrease in ownership by 4.35%. This transaction was filed with the SEC and is accessible for review. Insiders own a mere 0.22% of Willis Towers Watson's stock.

Stock Performance Overview

As of Monday, WTW shares opened at $332.71. The company has a market capitalization of $33.17 billion. The stock's 50-day moving average is $326.11, while the 200-day moving average stands at $312.03. The P/E ratio is notably negative at -332.71, with a P/E/G ratio of 2.95, and a beta value of 0.71. Willis Towers Watson has experienced a 52-week low of $245.04 and a high of $344.14.

Willis Towers Watson reported its quarterly earnings on February 4, announcing earnings per share (EPS) of $8.13 for the quarter, exceeding analysts' estimates of $8.01 by $0.12. The company's net margin was slightly negative at -0.99%, but it achieved a positive return on equity of 20.02%. Revenue for the quarter was reported at $3.04 billion, just below the expected $3.05 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from the same period last year. Analysts predict Willis Towers Watson will post an EPS of 17.32 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement

In a positive development, Willis Towers Watson recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.92 per share, set to be paid on April 15. Shareholders on record as of March 31 will receive this dividend, which is an increase from the previous dividend of $0.88. This annualizes to $3.68, representing a yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is March 31, and it’s important to note that the company has a dividend payout ratio (DPR) of -368.00%.

Analyst Opinions

Market analysts have expressed mixed opinions on WTW's stock. Truist Financial has maintained a "buy" rating with a price target of $380.00, up from $365.00. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods also increased their price target from $378.00 to $387.00 while rating the stock as "outperform." Additionally, Evercore ISI upgraded their rating from "in-line" to "outperform," adjusting their price target from $357.00 to $373.00. Jefferies Financial Group also lifted the rating from "hold" to "buy," with a price target raised from $352.00 to $382.00. Raymond James upgraded WTW from "outperform" to "strong-buy," raising the target price from $365.00 to $400.00. In total, one analyst has issued a sell rating, two have recommended holding, nine have encouraged buying, and one has issued a strong buy rating. According to MarketBeat data, the average rating stands at "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $346.15.

Company Overview

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company operates globally as an advisory, broking, and solutions provider. Its operations are divided into two segments: Health, Wealth & Career and Risk & Broking. The company delivers a range of services including consulting, plan management, broking, and administrative services for health benefits, actuarial support for pension plans, and retirement consulting solutions.

Investment, HedgeFunds, Acquisition