Willis Towers Q2 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates on Lower Costs

Core Insights - Willis Towers Watson (WTW) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.86 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8% and reflecting a 20% year-over-year increase [1][9] - The company's second-quarter results were bolstered by strong revenue from the Risk & Broking segment, improved EBITDA margin, and reduced expenses [1] Operational Update - WTW's adjusted consolidated revenues were $2.26 billion, flat year-over-year on a reported basis, but up 5% organically and 1% on a constant currency basis, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2% [2][9] - Total service costs decreased by 7.8% year-over-year to $1.9 billion, attributed to lower operating expenses, amortization, and transaction costs [2] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating income rose to $419 million, a 9% increase year-over-year, surpassing the estimate of $396.2 million, with a margin expansion of 150 basis points to 18.5% [3][9] - Adjusted EBITDA was $470 million, up 6% year-over-year, matching the estimate, with an EBITDA margin increase of 120 basis points to 20.8% [3][9] Segment Performance - Health, Wealth & Career segment revenues totaled $1.18 billion, down 6% year-over-year, impacted by the sale of TRANZACT, but organic growth was noted [4] - Wealth segment saw organic revenue growth driven by increased Retirement work globally and new business wins in Investments [5] - Career segment experienced modest revenue growth due to strong advisory demand outside North America, offset by client postponements in North America [6] - Risk & Broking segment revenues increased by 7% year-over-year to $1 billion, driven by new business activity and strong client retention [7][9] Financial Update - As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $1.9 billion, a 3.4% increase from the end of 2024, while long-term debt rose by 10.3% to $4.7 billion [10] - Shareholders' equity increased by 2% to $8.1 billion, and cash flow from operations was $326 million, down 24.3% from the prior year [10] - Free cash flow for the first half of 2025 decreased by 29% to $217 million, primarily due to increased compensation and cash tax payments [11] 2025 Outlook - WTW anticipates 100 basis points of average annual margin expansion over the next three years in Risk & Broking [12] - The company projects share repurchases of $1.5 billion, subject to market conditions and potential capital allocation opportunities [12] - A foreign currency tailwind on adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately 5 cents is expected in 2025 at current rates [13]