Willis Towers Watson Public Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NASDAQ:WTW)

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited (NASDAQ:WTW) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Traders acquired 2,633 put options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 565% compared to the typical volume of 396 put options.

Willis Towers Watson Public Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ:WTW traded down $3.65 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $317.35. The company had a trading volume of 114,695 shares, compared to its average volume of 563,455. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $327.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $316.90. Willis Towers Watson Public has a one year low of $245.04 and a one year high of $344.14. The company has a market capitalization of $31.64 billion, a PE ratio of -317.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.72.

Willis Towers Watson Public (NASDAQ:WTW) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported $8.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.01 by $0.12. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 20.02% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.05 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $7.44 earnings per share. Willis Towers Watson Public’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Willis Towers Watson Public will post 17.32 EPS for the current year.

Willis Towers Watson Public Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. This is a boost from Willis Towers Watson Public’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.16%. Willis Towers Watson Public’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -368.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Julie Jarecke Gebauer sold 3,384 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.77, for a total transaction of $1,136,245.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 74,417 shares in the company, valued at $24,986,996.09. This represents a 4.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Willis Towers Watson Public

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WTW. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in Willis Towers Watson Public by 1.8% during the first quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,018 shares of the company’s stock valued at $682,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in 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 worth $106,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 1,405 shares of the company’s stock worth $440,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 2.9% during the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,408 shares of the company’s stock worth $476,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP raised its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,197 shares of the company’s stock worth $375,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. 93.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on WTW. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $373.00 to $371.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Willis Towers Watson Public from $380.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $344.00 to $395.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $387.00 price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $346.38.

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.