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Willis Towers Watson (WTW)
NASDAQ:WTW

Willis Towers Watson (WTW) AI Stock Analysis

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Willis Towers Watson

(NASDAQ:WTW)

72Outperform
Willis Towers Watson presents a stable investment opportunity with strong technical indicators and positive earnings call sentiment. However, valuation challenges due to a negative P/E ratio and profitability concerns from the financial performance analysis are key risks. The leadership transition is expected to be beneficial, but the company's ability to manage leverage and enhance profitability remains crucial for future performance.
Positive Factors
Capital Management
Share repurchases exceeded consensus expectations, indicating strong capital management and shareholder returns.
Margin Improvements
WTW expects margin improvements due to divestitures, transformation programs, and productivity enhancements, which will likely lead to a higher valuation.
Valuation
WTW is seen as an attractive investment opportunity because its shares are currently undervalued compared to its peers, providing an entry point for investors.
Negative Factors
Cost Challenges
WTW faces headwinds such as pension adjustments and other expected challenges like reinsurance JV costs and foreign exchange impacts.
Growth Challenges
HWC organic growth was slightly weaker than expected, suggesting potential headwinds in this segment.
Revenue Performance
Revenue came slightly below consensus in both HWC and R&B segments, indicating some challenges in meeting revenue expectations.

Willis Towers Watson (WTW) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Willis Towers Watson Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWillis Towers Watson Public Limited Company operates as an advisory, broking, and solutions company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Health, Wealth and Career; and Risk and Broking. The company offers actuarial support, plan design, and administrative services for traditional pension and retirement savings plans; plan management consulting, broking, and administration services for health and group benefit programs; and benefits outsourcing services. It also provides advice, data, software, and products to address clients' total rewards and talent issues. In addition, the company offers risk advice, insurance brokerage, and consulting services in the areas of property and casualty, aerospace, construction, and marine. Further, it offers investment consulting and discretionary management services to insurance and reinsurance companies; insurance consulting and technology, risk and capital management, pricing and predictive modeling, financial and regulatory reporting, financial and capital modeling, merger and acquisition, outsourcing, and business management services; wholesale insurance broking services to retail and wholesale brokers; and underwriting and capital management, capital market, and advisory and brokerage services. Additionally, the company provides primary medical and ancillary benefit exchange, and outsourcing services to active employees and retirees in the group and individual markets, as well as delivers healthcare and reimbursement accounts, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts, and other consumer-directed accounts. The company was formerly known as Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and changed its name to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company in January 2016. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company was founded in 1828 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.
How the Company Makes MoneyWillis Towers Watson generates revenue through a diversified business model that encompasses several key streams. The company primarily earns money by providing consulting and advisory services in human capital and benefits, which include strategic human resource consulting, employee benefits brokerage, and administration services. Additionally, WTW's corporate risk and broking segment generates income through insurance brokerage services, where they act as an intermediary between clients and insurers to negotiate and place insurance coverage. In the investment, risk, and reinsurance segment, WTW earns revenue by offering investment consulting, risk management services, and reinsurance brokerage. The company also benefits from software sales and licensing fees from its proprietary software solutions designed to support risk management and human resource functions. Strategic partnerships and alliances with insurers, reinsurers, and other service providers further enhance WTW's ability to serve its clients and contribute to its revenue growth.

Willis Towers Watson Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Willis Towers Watson shows a stable financial condition with some growth and profitability challenges. Despite strong revenue growth and cash flow generation, the company faces reduced net profitability and increased leverage. Strategic focus on cost management and debt reduction could enhance future financial performance. Overall, the company's financials are stable, but there are areas for improvement to ensure long-term growth and profitability.
Income Statement
68
Positive
The income statement reflects moderate growth and profitability. The revenue growth rate from 2023 to 2024 stands at 4.71%, indicating steady growth. Gross profit margin remains strong at 100% due to the nature of the industry. However, the net profit margin has declined significantly from 11.12% in 2023 to 2.98% in 2024, reflecting increased expenses or other financial pressures. EBIT and EBITDA margins have also decreased from 14.39% and 21.29% in 2023 to 6.31% in 2024, further indicating reduced operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a stable financial position with some concerns. The debt-to-equity ratio has increased to 0.73 in 2024 from 0.62 in 2023, indicating higher leverage. The return on equity (ROE) has decreased from 11.08% to 3.73%, reflecting reduced profitability. However, the equity ratio remains solid at 28.67% in 2024, suggesting a relatively stable capital structure.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Cash flow statements indicate a strong cash position with positive growth. Free cash flow has grown by 37.12% from 2023 to 2024, highlighting improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio has increased to 5.11 in 2024, suggesting strong cash generation relative to net income. Additionally, the free cash flow to net income ratio of 5.11 shows that the company is generating significant cash flows beyond net income.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
9.93B9.48B8.87B9.00B9.35B
Gross Profit
4.43B4.14B3.62B4.55B3.73B
EBIT
627.00M1.36B1.18B2.20B1.61B
EBITDA
823.00M2.02B1.88B2.40B2.38B
Net Income Common Stockholders
-98.00M1.05B1.01B2.16B996.00M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.89B1.42B1.26B4.69B2.09B
Total Assets
27.68B29.09B31.77B34.97B38.53B
Total Debt
5.81B5.94B5.47B5.47B6.71B
Net Debt
3.92B4.52B4.21B785.00M4.62B
Total Liabilities
19.66B19.50B21.68B21.66B27.60B
Stockholders Equity
7.94B9.52B10.02B13.26B10.82B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
1.51B1.10B608.00M1.86B1.49B
Operating Cash Flow
1.51B1.34B812.00M2.06B1.77B
Investing Cash Flow
250.00M-1.08B-173.00M2.77B-160.00M
Financing Cash Flow
-459.00M-1.20B-3.44B-3.11B-434.00M

Willis Towers Watson Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price308.80
Price Trends
50DMA
328.72
Positive
100DMA
321.21
Positive
200DMA
300.56
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.04
Negative
RSI
57.84
Neutral
STOCH
57.61
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WTW, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 308.8 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 332.07, below the 50-day MA of 328.72, and above the 200-day MA of 300.56, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.84 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 57.61 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WTW.

Willis Towers Watson Risk Analysis

Willis Towers Watson disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Willis Towers Watson reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Willis Towers Watson Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
AJAJG
79
Outperform
$88.08B52.989.46%0.71%15.21%46.99%
BRBRO
77
Outperform
$35.67B36.0216.35%0.45%12.89%13.50%
76
Outperform
$19.63B37.0032.89%1.23%16.38%34.58%
MMMMC
76
Outperform
$120.40B29.8431.80%1.29%7.60%8.66%
AOAON
73
Outperform
$85.17B31.57100.25%0.68%17.51%1.31%
WTWTW
72
Outperform
$33.04B-1.12%1.07%4.74%-108.62%
63
Neutral
$14.39B9.818.95%4.37%16.38%-11.64%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WTW
Willis Towers Watson
308.80
41.06
15.34%
AON
Aon
375.76
59.35
18.76%
AJG
Arthur J Gallagher & Co
319.25
77.28
31.94%
BRO
Brown & Brown
115.01
30.34
35.83%
ERIE
Erie Indemnity Company
396.57
0.92
0.23%
MMC
Marsh & Mclennan Companies
230.20
27.58
13.61%

Willis Towers Watson Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 4, 2025 | % Change Since: -6.36% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a positive sentiment with strong revenue growth, successful completion of strategic initiatives, and increased earnings per share. However, there are concerns about revenue declines in certain segments, onetime noncash charges, and foreign exchange headwinds.
Highlights
Strong Organic Revenue Growth
WTW delivered 5% organic revenue growth in Q4 2024, and 6% excluding TRANZACT, with a 36.1% adjusted operating margin, up 190 basis points year-over-year.
Successful Transformation Program
The transformation program concluded with $27 million of incremental annualized savings in Q4, bringing total savings over the program to $473 million.
Increased Earnings Per Share
Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 9% year-over-year to $8.13 for Q4 2024.
Improved Operating Margins
For the full year 2024, WTW expanded adjusted operating margin by 190 basis points to 23.9% (24.4% excluding TRANZACT).
Reinvestment Strategy
WTW plans to allocate approximately $1.5 billion in share repurchases in 2025, subject to market conditions and potential capital allocation to organic and inorganic investments.
Lowlights
Decline in Benefits Delivery & Outsourcing Revenue
BD&O revenue declined 2% in Q4 2024 compared to the same quarter last year. Excluding TRANZACT, BD&O grew only 1%.
Onetime Noncash Charges
The sale of TRANZACT resulted in a pretax loss and related impairment charges of over $1 billion each, affecting the full year GAAP results.
Foreign Exchange Headwinds
FX was a headwind to adjusted EPS of $0.08 for Q4 2024 and is expected to be a headwind of approximately $0.18 on adjusted EPS for 2025.
Career Revenue Growth Below Expectations
Career delivered only 1% revenue growth in Q4, below expectations due to timing issues with some projects delayed to Q1 2025.
Company Guidance
During the earnings call for WTW's fourth quarter and full year 2024 results, Carl Hess, the CEO, highlighted key financial achievements and strategic milestones. WTW reported a 5% organic revenue growth for the quarter, excluding TRANZACT, which increased to 6%. The adjusted operating margin expanded by 190 basis points year-over-year to 23.9% for the full year, or 24.4% excluding TRANZACT. The transformation program concluded with $27 million in incremental annualized savings for the quarter, totaling $473 million in savings over its duration. Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose by 17% year-over-year to $16.93. The company announced the sale of TRANZACT, completed on December 31, for $632 million, which is expected to enhance growth rates, operating margins, and free cash flow starting in 2025. Looking ahead, WTW aims for mid-single-digit organic growth, continued annual adjusted operating margin expansion, and ongoing growth in free cash flow and free cash flow margin.

Willis Towers Watson Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Willis Towers Watson Announces Leadership Transition in 2025
Positive
Mar 3, 2025

On March 3, 2025, Willis Towers Watson announced that Paul Thomas, the current Non-Executive Chair of the Board, will retire at the end of his term and not seek re-election at the 2025 Annual General Meeting. Paul Reilly, an independent director since October 2022, has been selected to succeed Thomas as the Non-Executive Chair, pending his re-election. This leadership transition is expected to further strengthen WTW’s strategic direction and performance, with Reilly’s extensive experience in global financial and professional services anticipated to be beneficial in driving the company’s future success.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.