On Monday, Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ:WTW) saw its price target increased by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW) from $352.00 to $359.00, while the firm kept its Outperform rating on the stock. The revision follows the company's third-quarter earnings report and subsequent conference call.
The brokerage firm adjusted its earnings per share (EPS) estimate for 2024 to $16.65, a slight increase from the previous $16.60, citing better-than-expected performance in the third quarter of 2024. However, KBW revised its EPS forecasts for the following years, reducing the 2025 and 2026 estimates to $17.95 and $20.45, respectively, from the former projections of $19.00 and $21.55. The adjustment was primarily due to the exclusion of TRANZACT from the firm's estimates.
KBW expressed confidence in Willis Towers Watson's growth prospects, noting the company's operational environment and strategic initiatives. The analyst highlighted Transformation savings, a focus on high-margin specialization and cross-selling, and rising talent productivity as factors that would likely bring the company's organic growth rate in line with that of its peers and contribute to significant margin expansion.
The firm's updated 2025 operating cash EPS multiple of 20.0 times underpins the new 12-month target price. This valuation reflects the positive outlook KBW holds for Willis Towers Watson, anticipating the company's financial performance to strengthen and deliver value to its shareholders.
In other recent news, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has reported a robust Q3 performance in 2024, marked by a 6% rise in organic revenue growth. This growth has been attributed to a 10% increase in Risk & Broking and a 4% rise in Health, Wealth & Career segments.
The adjusted operating margin improved by 190 basis points to 18.1%, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) reached $2.93, marking a 31% increase year-over-year. The company also raised its share repurchase guidance by $150 million, anticipating significant cash inflows from recent divestitures.
WTW's free cash flow for the nine months ending September 30 was $807 million, up 14%. The company raised the low-end of its EPS target range for the year and increased its share repurchase target to $900 million. WTW also announced strategic partnerships and divestitures, including the sale of TRANZACT and an investment in Atomos.
Despite a 1% decline in Benefits, Delivery & Outsourcing due to strong prior-year comparables and client insourcing effects, the company remains optimistic about achieving its 2024 targets.
InvestingPro Insights
Willis Towers Watson's recent performance and future prospects align with several key insights from InvestingPro. The company's stock is currently trading near its 52-week high, with a price at 97.64% of its peak, reflecting the positive sentiment echoed in KBW's analysis. This strength is further underscored by the stock's impressive year-to-date total return of 25.28%.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that WTW has raised its dividend for 7 consecutive years and has maintained dividend payments for 22 consecutive years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns that complements KBW's positive outlook. The current dividend yield stands at 1.18%, with a dividend growth rate of 4.76% over the last twelve months.
While KBW adjusted its EPS forecasts, it's worth noting that 7 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, according to InvestingPro Tips. This aligns with the brokerage's confidence in Willis Towers Watson's growth prospects and operational improvements.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights, with 6 more tips available for Willis Towers Watson.
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