AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merit Medicine, a healthcare analytics company serving carriers, MGUs, captives, employers, and their consulting partners, today announced the licensing and integration of Willis Towers Watson’s (WTW) HealthMAPS® manuals into its predictive analytics solution, Merit Predict. The integration enables underwriters to assess group health risk with greater precision by connecting HealthMAPS®’ actuarial rigor with Merit Medicine’s clinically grounded, next generati ...

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: Willis Towers Watson (WTW) - WTW currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum characteristics [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned for potential outperformance in the market [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past week, WTW shares increased by 1.54%, matching the performance of the Zacks Insurance - Brokerage industry [5] - In the last month, WTW's shares rose by 6.21%, outperforming the industry's 2.23% [5] - For the past quarter, WTW shares have risen by 14.96%, and over the last year, they are up 19.45%, compared to the S&P 500's increases of 8.11% and 19.22%, respectively [6] Trading Volume - WTW's average 20-day trading volume is 539,458 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the last two months, four earnings estimates for WTW have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $16.75 to $16.84 [9] - For the next fiscal year, four estimates have also moved higher without any downward revisions [9] Conclusion - Considering the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, WTW is identified as a 2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A, making it a promising candidate for near-term investment [11]

Core Viewpoint - Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook driven by rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of changing earnings estimates in determining stock price movements, making it a valuable tool for investors [2][4]. - The recent upgrade for WTW reflects an improvement in its underlying business, suggesting that investor sentiment may lead to increased stock prices [5]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - WTW is projected to earn $16.84 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with no year-over-year change expected. However, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 1.8% over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system categorizes stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, with a proven track record of generating significant returns, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - WTW's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Insights - Special Contingency Risks (SCR), a WTW business, has launched an Enhanced Victim Support (EVS) insurance extension aimed at supporting hostage victims [1][2] - The EVS extension provides comprehensive support for victims of kidnap and their families, including rehabilitation, salary support, and medical and psychiatric care [2] - For each EVS extension purchased, SCR will donate to Hostage International, enhancing their efforts in supporting affected families [3] Company Initiatives - The EVS extension represents a significant advancement in SCR's commitment to innovative solutions for post-trauma rehabilitation [4] - SCR's partnership with Hostage International aims to strengthen the charity's work, which provides guidance to families affected by kidnap or unlawful detention [4] Industry Impact - Hostage International, founded by notable figures, focuses on supporting families of hostages and providing independent information to those affected by kidnaps [4] - The initiative is seen as a vital fundraising effort that will enhance the support for individuals facing the trauma of kidnaps and arbitrary detentions [5]

New findings from Willis’ latest Insurance Marketplace Realities report highlight favorable conditions for buyers, driven by abundant capital, advancing technology, and data-driven risk strategies.NEW YORK, Oct. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After years of volatility caused by the pandemic, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical unrest, the commercial insurance industry is entering a period of stability and opportunity, according to the latest Insurance Marketplace Realities report from Willis, a WTW busin ...

Core Insights - Willis Towers Watson (WTW) is focusing on efficiency and client-driven strategies to shape its growth trajectory, leading to consistent gains in commissions and fees, solid client retention, and new business additions [1][9] - The company is targeting high-growth areas such as Risk & Broking and the Individual Marketplace, prioritizing organic investments to diversify its business mix and strengthen its presence in the insurance value chain [2][9] - WTW aims to improve operating margins through efficiency, scale, and automation, with ongoing transformation initiatives designed to streamline processes and enhance productivity [3][9] - The company is committed to enhancing shareholder value, having increased its dividend six times over the past five years and planning to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion in shares in 2025 [4] Challenges Faced - Despite strong growth momentum, WTW has experienced margin pressures, highlighting the need for disciplined cost control [5] - The company's return on equity for the trailing 12 months is 21.6%, below the industry average of 24.7%, indicating a need to better convert growth initiatives into financial results [6] Earnings Performance - WTW has generally performed well, beating estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 4.14% [7] Industry Comparisons - Other players in the Insurance - Brokerage sector include Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG), Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO), and Aon plc (AON), each demonstrating varying degrees of earnings performance and growth strategies [8][10][11]

Core Insights - Companies are planning to evaluate disruptive changes to their healthcare plans as U.S. healthcare costs rise to the highest level in over two decades, with projected increases of 9.1% in 2026 compared to 8.1% in 2025 and 7.0% in 2024 [1] Cost Drivers and Employer Actions - One in three employers are considering significant changes to their healthcare programs within the next three years, with top cost drivers identified as pharmacy costs, high-cost claimants, and chronic conditions [2] - Employers' top priorities over the next three years include managing medical costs, pharmacy costs, and ensuring affordability for employees, followed by employee wellbeing and healthcare delivery [3] Cost Management Strategies - Nearly 59% of employers plan to implement broader cost-saving actions in the next three years, up from 46% in the past three years, focusing on program subsidies, alternative plan designs, and improving operational efficiency [4] - Employers are reducing unnecessary medical expenses through vendor contract management, audits, and preventing overutilization, with 46% evaluating vendor performance and 36% taking medical plans out to bid [6] Alternative Plan Designs and Innovations - Alternative plan designs are currently used by 41% of companies, with nearly half planning to implement attributes such as cost transparency and enhanced navigation in the next two years [7] - Employers are frustrated with their pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), with 75% planning to take their PBM out to bid and 58% having recently audited their pharmacy benefits [8] GLP-1 Medications and AI in Healthcare - While 57% of employers cover GLP-1 medications for obesity, 15% are considering removing coverage, with various management tactics being evaluated [9] - Only 21% of employers currently use AI in their healthcare programs, but 80% believe it will fundamentally change healthcare benefits management in the next three years [10] Long-term Strategies - Employers are encouraged to adopt a revolutionary approach to address immediate cost pressures and long-term trends, focusing on innovations in clinical programs and effective uses of AI to manage chronic diseases [11] Survey Details - The survey involved 417 employers and was conducted in June and July 2025, representing a workforce of five million employees [12]

LONDON, Sept. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase to the existing share repurchase authority in the amount of $1.5 billion. The $1.5 billion increase is in addition to the approximately $200 million remaining on the current open-ended repurchase authority. The Company is authorized to repurchase shares, by way of redemption or otherwise, and will consider whether to do so from tim ...

Company Overview - Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (WTW) has a market cap of $32.6 billion and operates as a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company, serving clients worldwide [1] - The company is categorized as a "large-cap" stock, headquartered in London, UK, and combines expertise, data-driven insights, and innovative solutions to support businesses of all sizes [2] Stock Performance - WTW shares have dipped over 3% from their 52-week high of $344.14, but have increased 12.6% over the past three months, outperforming the SPDR S&P Insurance ETF's (KIE) marginal rise [3] - Year-to-date, WTW stock has risen 6.5%, surpassing KIE's 3.4% gain, and has soared 14.8% over the past 52 weeks compared to KIE's 4.5% return [4] Financial Results - On July 31, WTW reported strong Q2 2025 results, with adjusted EPS of $2.86, beating consensus estimates and rising 20% year-over-year; revenue was $2.26 billion, driven by solid organic growth in the Risk & Broking segment and improved margins from cost reductions [5] Competitive Landscape - Rival Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) has underperformed WTW, with shares decreasing 10.4% year-to-date and 12.2% over the past 52 weeks [6] - WTW stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 22 analysts, with a mean price target of $365.31, indicating a premium of 9.5% to current levels [6]

Core Insights - Power companies are experiencing relief after years of tough market conditions, with capacity returning and competition among insurers intensifying, leading to easing pricing that favors buyers [1][2] - Insurers are competing actively, resulting in mid to high double-digit rate reductions for property damage and business interruption for power and utilities companies [2] - Long-term agreements and no-claims bonuses are re-emerging, while local markets are gaining underwriting authority, enhancing responsiveness and competition [2] Industry Challenges and Opportunities - The energy sector faces challenges from geopolitical volatility, climate-driven disruptions, underfunded transmission networks, and aging infrastructure, despite increasing demand [3][5] - Future-ready power companies are leveraging insurance strategically in the current soft market to optimize risk strategies, control costs, and position capital for sustainable growth [3] - Nuclear energy is identified as a key solution for the power needs of data centers, providing clean, reliable, and scalable electricity to support the digital economy [5] Market Dynamics - The international power liability market is softening, with Lloyd's reporting its third consecutive year of underwriting profit, although climate change and decarbonization pressures are affecting insurer appetite [5]