UBS Upgrades Willis Towers Watson to ‘Hold’ Rating in Latest Research Note
October 17, 2024

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Willis Towers Watson ($NASDAQ:WTW) is a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. UBS Group, a leading financial services company, recently released a research note on Willis Towers Watson’s public shares. In this note, UBS upgraded their rating for the company from “sell” to “hold”. This change in rating is a significant development for Willis Towers Watson and its investors. The main reason for the upgrade in rating is believed to be the company’s strong performance in the past few months. Despite the ongoing challenges brought on by the pandemic, Willis Towers Watson has managed to maintain stable financials and deliver solid results. This has instilled confidence in UBS Group and prompted them to change their stance on the stock. Another factor that may have influenced UBS’s decision is the company’s recent strategic moves. In September, Willis Towers Watson announced its plans to merge with Aon, another leading global professional services firm. This merger is expected to create significant value for shareholders and enhance the company’s position in the market.
However, UBS also identified some risks associated with the company’s stock. These include potential regulatory hurdles for the proposed merger and uncertainties in the global economic landscape. Nevertheless, with the current market conditions and the potential for future growth, UBS believes that Willis Towers Watson’s stock is now fairly valued. With a strong performance and strategic moves in place, the company is well-positioned to navigate through these challenging times and emerge even stronger.
Share Price
This news came as the stock opened at $291.08 and closed at $290.03, experiencing a slight dip of 0.07% from its previous closing price of $290.24. This change in rating reflects the current sentiment towards the company and its performance in the market. The upgrade in rating may be seen as a positive sign for Willis Towers Watson, as it signals a more neutral outlook from UBS. This could potentially attract more investors to consider the stock, as they may perceive it as being less risky than before.
However, it should be noted that this ‘hold’ rating does not necessarily imply a strong recommendation to buy or sell the stock, but rather a suggestion to hold onto current positions. This move by UBS is not surprising given the recent news surrounding Willis Towers Watson. The company has been in the spotlight due to its proposed merger with insurance brokerage giant Aon. This deal has faced regulatory challenges, with both the European Commission and US Department of Justice raising concerns over potential anti-competitive effects. As a result, the stock has been experiencing volatility in the market. Despite these challenges, Willis Towers Watson has been performing well financially. This could be another factor that led to UBS’ upgrade in rating, as they may see potential for the company to overcome regulatory hurdles and continue on a positive growth trajectory. In conclusion, UBS’ upgrade in rating for Willis Towers Watson comes at a time of uncertainty for the company. While the proposed merger with Aon faces regulatory obstacles, the company’s financial performance remains strong. This ‘hold’ rating may provide some stability for investors, but ultimately the success of the company will depend on how they navigate through current challenges and continue to drive growth. Live Quote…
About the Company
Income Snapshot
Below shows the total revenue, net income and net margin for WTW. More…
| Total Revenues | Net Income | Net Margin |
| 9.48k | 1.05k | 15.1% |
Cash Flow Snapshot
Below shows the cash from operations, investing and financing for WTW. More…
| Operations | Investing | Financing |
| 1.34k | -1.08k | -1.2k |
Balance Sheet Snapshot
Below shows the total assets, liabilities and book value per share for WTW. More…
| Total Assets | Total Liabilities | Book Value Per Share |
| 29.09k | 19.5k | 92.84 |
Key Ratios Snapshot
Some of the financial key ratios for WTW are shown below. More…
| 3Y Rev Growth | 3Y Operating Profit Growth | Operating Margin |
| 0.5% | 11.4% | 16.0% |
| FCF Margin | ROE | ROA |
| 11.6% | 10.0% | 3.3% |
Analysis
After conducting an in-depth analysis, I have determined that WILLIS TOWERS WATSON is a company with strong potential for investors interested in long-term stability and consistent dividends. Firstly, the Star Chart for WILLIS TOWERS WATSON reveals that the company is strong in terms of dividend and profitability, with a medium level of growth and weaker asset performance. This indicates that the company has a solid track record of consistently paying out dividends to its shareholders, which can be attractive to income-seeking investors. Additionally, WILLIS TOWERS WATSON has a high health score of 8/10, which takes into consideration its cashflows and debt. This suggests that the company is well-positioned to sustain its operations even in times of crisis, providing a sense of security for investors. Furthermore, based on our classification system, WILLIS TOWERS WATSON falls under the category of ‘cow’, which refers to companies that have a history of paying out consistent and sustainable dividends. This further solidifies the company’s reputation as a reliable and stable investment option. In conclusion, I believe that investors who are looking for a company with a strong track record of dividend payouts and long-term stability would be interested in WILLIS TOWERS WATSON. Its proven ability to weather challenging economic conditions and maintain profitability makes it an attractive option for those seeking sustainable returns on their investments. More…

Peers
Willis Towers Watson PLC is a leading global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk and improve performance. The company has over 40,000 employees in more than 120 countries. Willis Towers Watson PLC is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: WLTW).
The company’s competitors include Argentum 47 Inc, Just Group PLC, and Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. These companies are also leaders in the global professional services industry.
– Argentum 47 Inc ($OTCPK:ARGQ)
Argentum 47 Inc is a company that provides software development services. The company has a market cap of 310.86k and an ROE of 33.4%. The company’s services include web development, mobile development, cloud computing, and data analytics.
– Just Group PLC ($LSE:JUST)
Just Group PLC is a financial services company that focuses on providing retirement income products and services to the UK market. The company has a market cap of 625.21M as of 2022 and a Return on Equity of -2.59%. Just Group’s products and services are designed to help customers achieve a comfortable retirement. The company offers a variety of retirement income products, including annuities, income drawdown plans, and equity release products. Just Group also provides advice and guidance to customers on retirement planning.
– Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc ($NYSE:MMC)
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., a professional services firm, provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and people worldwide. It operates through two segments, Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting. The Risk and Insurance Services segment provides risk management solutions, such as risk advice, risk transfer, and risk control and mitigation solutions, as well as insurance program management services and insurance brokerage services. This segment serves commercial, public sector, and private clients. The Consulting segment offers various economic, organizational, and technological consulting services in the areas of customer experience, operations, digital, technology, finance and accounting, and strategy and mergers and acquisitions. This segment serves large companies, governmental entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The company was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Summary
UBS Group has upgraded their rating on Willis Towers Watson Public from “sell” to “hold” in a recent research note. This upgrade suggests that the investment bank believes the stock is currently fairly valued and may not have significant upside potential in the near future.
However, it also indicates that they no longer recommend selling the stock. This change in rating reflects a more neutral outlook on the company, which may be due to a combination of factors such as the company’s recent financial performance, industry trends, and overall market conditions. Investors should continue to monitor the stock and its key factors to make informed decisions on their investments.
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