NASDAQ$WTW

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company · Q4 2021 earnings

Q4 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

WTW reported a solid fiscal year with revenue growth and meaningful margin expansion. The company is focused on strengthening performance and delivering long-term organic growth and margin expansion.

  • Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $2.71 billion, an increase of 1% as compared to the same period in the prior year.
  • Income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $690 million, an increase from $579 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year.
  • Net income attributable to WTW was $2.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 405% from the prior-year fourth quarter.
  • Diluted earnings per share were $19.19 and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $5.67 for the quarter.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$2.71B

Previous: $2.76B-2.1%
EPS (adj)

$5.67

Previous: $5.23+8.4%
Organic revenue growth

4.0%

Previous: 2.0%+100.0%
Net Income

$2.4B

Previous: $476M+404.2%
Operating Income

$690M

Previous: $587M+17.5%
Gross Profit

$2.71B

Previous: $2.76B-2.1%
Cash & Equivalents

$6.3B

Previous: $1.69B+273.9%
Total Assets

$35B

Previous: $38.5B-9.2%
Stock-Based Comp

$30M

Previous: $31M-3.2%

Revenue & EPS history

Willis Towers Watson · Revenue · Quarterly

$2.71B

Q4 2021-2.1%vs Q4 2020
Beat estimate in 1 of 4 quarters(25%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Willis Towers Watson · $1.77B total across 2 segments · Q4 2021

  • Health, Wealth & Career
    $884M+2.2%
  • Risk & Broking
    $882M-0.7%

Forward guidance

Looking ahead to 2022, we remain committed to doing the work that’s needed to strengthen performance.

Tailwinds

  • Our hiring levels have increased
  • We expect that the impacts of previous colleague departures will subside
  • Helping us to deliver long-term organic growth and margin expansion in line with our Investor Day expectations
  • Our new global leadership team has been working diligently on our new path forward as we look to execute on our strategic priorities.
  • We are squarely focused on delivering on our targets and I am confident that the actions we are taking will create value for our clients, colleagues and shareholders.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2021

Historical avgQ4 2021

-0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.0%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.1%

Avg return

30 days after

45%

29 / 65 earnings

Positive

+10.2%

Q3 2023

Best reaction

-10.2%

Q2 2023

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+0.8%-10.6%-14.0%
Q4 2025+5.3%+4.2%-5.1%
Q3 2025-0.1%+1.7%+1.1%
Q1 2025-5.7%-7.1%-5.1%
Q4 2024-3.1%-1.5%-0.1%
Q3 2024+2.0%+4.9%+9.7%
Q2 2024+6.0%+6.5%+5.4%
Q1 2024-5.1%-5.0%-4.3%
Q4 2023+8.5%+8.5%+9.5%
Q3 2023+10.2%+13.6%+17.6%
Q2 2023-10.2%-8.7%-11.7%
Q1 2023-2.6%-4.3%-7.0%
Q4 2022-4.8%-6.1%-10.2%
Q3 2022+4.9%+4.9%+15.7%
Q2 2022+1.8%+1.1%+2.3%
Q1 2022-7.8%-8.1%-7.8%
Q4 2021-3.1%-6.2%-4.8%
Q3 2021+0.8%-1.3%-4.7%
Q2 2021+3.5%+5.9%+12.8%
Q1 2021+5.3%+6.9%+6.3%
Q4 2020-0.0%+0.8%-1.5%
Q3 2020-5.9%-6.9%+8.1%
Q2 2020-0.1%-2.6%-2.1%
Q1 2020+4.6%+8.3%+15.8%
Q4 2019-4.5%-3.2%-9.2%
Q3 2019-0.7%-2.7%+3.3%
Q2 2019-0.7%-4.4%+0.2%
Q1 2019-3.2%-3.1%-4.8%
Q4 2018+0.9%+2.9%+1.7%
Q3 2018+7.9%+10.6%+11.4%
Q2 2018-6.5%-5.0%-7.5%
Q1 2018+3.0%+4.3%+4.0%
Q4 2017-3.3%-1.3%+4.3%
Q3 2017-0.8%+0.4%+0.6%
Q2 2017+0.5%+0.5%-0.5%
Q1 2017+7.6%+6.0%+9.8%
Q4 2016+0.9%+1.8%+4.1%
Q3 2016-4.8%-4.6%-3.0%
Q2 2016-2.8%-1.8%+2.0%
Q1 2016-3.3%
Q4 2015-3.3%
Q3 2015-1.9%
Q2 2015-1.8%
Q1 2015+0.5%
Q4 2014-0.3%
Q3 2014+2.9%
Q2 2014+0.1%
Q1 2014+3.4%
Q4 2013+0.6%
Q3 2013-0.1%
Q2 2013-2.1%
Q1 2013-0.4%
Q4 2012+1.1%
Q3 2012-2.6%
Q2 2012+0.1%
Q1 2012+0.2%
Q4 2011-0.5%
Q4 2009-0.5%
Q4 2010-0.5%
Q3 2011-0.6%
Q2 2011-0.7%
Q1 2011+1.2%
Q3 2010-0.1%
Q1 2010+1.8%
Q2 2010+1.8%

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