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Willis Towers Watson plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 4 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 9%, organic up 5%: Revenue was $2.47 billion, up 9% as reported and 8% in constant currency. Organic growth was 5%. Acquisitions and divestitures added 3 points and currency 1 point. Source
  • Diluted EPS down, adjusted EPS up: Diluted EPS was $2.43, down 27% from $3.32. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.35, up 17% from $2.86, after adjusting for amortization and transaction and integration expenses. Source
  • R&B organic growth 7%: R&B revenue was $1.16 billion, up 11% as reported, 10% in constant currency and 7% organically. Source
  • GAAP margin down, adjusted up: GAAP operating margin was 14.8%, down 150 basis points. Adjusted operating margin was 19.5%, up 100 basis points, after adding back amortization and transaction and integration expenses. Source
  • Free cash flow up $143 million: Six-month free cash flow was $360 million against $217 million. Management said the increase was primarily driven by operating margin expansion. Source
  • Propel announced with results: WTW announced Propel, a plan to scale AI and automation across the company, alongside its second-quarter results. Source

“WTW delivered solid second quarter results, reflecting business momentum and disciplined execution”

Carl Hess, WTW’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
R&B adjusted operating margin Source2026~100 basis points of annual margin expansionKept
Willis Re joint venture Source2026~$0.30 headwind on Adjusted Diluted EPSKept
Newfront acquisition, Adjusted EPS Source2026~$0.10 dilutive to Adjusted EPSKept
Newfront revenue and adjusted EBITDA margin Source2026, post-close~$250M revenue; ~26% adjusted EBITDA marginKept
Share repurchases Source2026$1.0B or greaterKept
Foreign currency tailwind on Adjusted Diluted EPS Sourceremainder of 2026~$0.05Lowered from ~$0.10
Foreign currency tailwind on Adjusted Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026~$0.35Kept
Propel adjusted operating margin target Source2028approximately 30%New
Propel net run-rate savings Source2028approximately $350 millionNew
Propel reinvestment to support growth Sourcewith Propelapproximately $50 millionNew
Propel cash investment and savings Sourcethrough end of 2028approximately $625 million of cashNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Propel AI Acceleration Plan announced with the second-quarter results; the first-quarter release did not describe it. Source
  • New: Board approved a $1.5 billion increase to the existing share repurchase authority, in addition to about $500 million remaining on the current authority. Source
  • New guidance: A 2028 adjusted operating margin target of about 30% was given; the first-quarter release had no 2028 target. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Currency tailwind for the remainder of 2026 lowered to about $0.05 from about $0.10; full-year tailwind stated at about $0.35 in both releases. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management said full-year 2026 guidance remains unchanged. Source

Second-quarter results and growth

  • Revenue up 9%, organic up 5%: Revenue was $2.47 billion, up 9% as reported and 8% in constant currency. Organic growth was 5%. Acquisitions and divestitures added 3 points and currency 1 point. Source
  • Diluted EPS down, adjusted EPS up: Diluted EPS was $2.43, down 27% from $3.32. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.35, up 17% from $2.86, after adjusting for amortization and transaction and integration expenses. Source
  • Net income fell 30%: Net income was $231 million against $332 million. Transaction and integration expenses rose to $61 million from $2 million. Adjusted net income rose 11% to $316 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 13%: Adjusted EBITDA was $529 million, or 21.5% of revenue, against $470 million, or 20.8%, in the prior-year quarter. Source

Health, Wealth & Career segment

  • HWC revenue up 8%, organic 4%: HWC revenue was $1.27 billion, up 8% as reported, 7% in constant currency and 4% organically. Source
  • Health and Wealth grew organically: Health grew organically with positive contributions from every region. Wealth grew on higher retirement work across all regions. Source
  • Career flat on organic basis: Career was flat organically as communications project work and broad-based pay work increased. A constraint in one region is listed under risks. Source
  • BD&O grew; Individual Marketplace lower: BD&O revenue rose organically on expanded project work, new client wins and regulatory driven Outsourcing work, partly offset by lower Individual Marketplace commissions. Source
  • HWC margin up 30 basis points: HWC operating margin was 24.1%, up 30 basis points, primarily driven by operating leverage and expense discipline. Source

“This performance underscores the meaningful progress we've made embedding AI and automation across our business”

Carl Hess, WTW’s Chief Executive Officer

Risk & Broking segment

  • R&B organic growth 7%: R&B revenue was $1.16 billion, up 11% as reported, 10% in constant currency and 7% organically. Source
  • CRB grew on new business: Corporate Risk & Broking grew organically on new business activity and client retention globally. Source
  • ICT grew on software sales: Insurance Consulting and Technology grew organically, mainly from software sales in the Technology practice. Source
  • R&B margin up 100 basis points: R&B operating margin was 22.2%, up 100 basis points, driven by operating leverage. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • GAAP margin down, adjusted up: GAAP operating margin was 14.8%, down 150 basis points. Adjusted operating margin was 19.5%, up 100 basis points, after adding back amortization and transaction and integration expenses. Source
  • Salaries and other costs rose: Salaries and benefits were $1,551 million against $1,449 million. Other operating expenses were $380 million against $336 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose: Interest expense was $78 million against $64 million in the second quarter, and $155 million against $129 million for the six months. Source
  • GAAP and adjusted tax rates: The U.S. GAAP tax rate was 19.8%, and the adjusted income tax rate used for adjusted diluted EPS was 19.6%. Source

Cash flow and share repurchases

  • Free cash flow up $143 million: Six-month free cash flow was $360 million against $217 million. Management said the increase was primarily driven by operating margin expansion. Source
  • Operating cash flow higher: Six-month cash from operating activities was $474 million against $326 million in the prior year. Source
  • Second-quarter buyback of $450 million: The company repurchased 1,733,574 of its outstanding shares in the quarter for $450 million. Source
  • Six-month buybacks $750 million: Six-month share repurchases were $750 million against $700 million a year earlier. Dividends paid were $178 million against $179 million. Source

Balance sheet and acquisitions

  • Cash lower than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,627 million at June 30, 2026, against $3,132 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Acquisition payments of $1,039 million: Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired, used $1,039 million in the first half, against $14 million a year earlier. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles increased: Goodwill rose to $9,735 million from $8,938 million at year-end, and other intangible assets rose to $1,444 million from $1,141 million. Source
  • Debt borrowed and repaid: Six-month borrowing of other debt was $775 million, and debt repayments were $552 million. Source

Propel AI acceleration plan

  • Propel announced with results: WTW announced Propel, a plan to scale AI and automation across the company, alongside its second-quarter results. Source
  • Propel tied to AI and data investment: Management cited ongoing AI, data and technology investment, including the Newfront acquisition, as support for the plan's client service, growth and process goals. Source
  • Plan aims at faster performance: Management expects the plan to accelerate performance and enhance efficiency. Plan cost and savings figures are listed under guidance. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Propel completion by end-2028: Management expects Propel to be completed by the end of 2028. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Transaction and integration costs include share-based compensation and other transaction costs tied to the Newfront acquisition. Source
  • External: Conflict in the Middle East constrained Career revenue in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains confident in delivering on full-year 2026 guidance and the new 2028 margin target. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.