Goldman Sachs upgraded Willis Group (WSH) to Neutral saying the merger with Towers Watson (TW) could allow the company to reduce its financial leverage. Goldman feels reduced leverage would remove a major share overhang and raised its price target for Willis shares to $49 from $45. The firm also sees "a number of positives" for Towers Watson resulting from the deal. It raised its price target for the stock to $136 from $129 and keeps a Neutral rating on the name.

Sees adjusted expenses: $755 - 805M, trending toward top end of range; Acquisition and Refinitiv Transaction related depreciation and amortization expense: $142M; Assumed non-GAAP tax rate: ~ 24.5% - 25.5% Cash costs of non-acquisition capital expenditures and capitalized software development: $75 - 83M LSEG Market Data Contract Revenue: ~$80M or ~$90M in 2025.

Reports Q1 revenue $408.7M, consensus $411.33M. Reports $1.9 T average daily volume ADV for the quarter, an increase of 39.1% compared to prior year period; quarterly ADV records in fully electronic U.S. High Grade credit, U.S. government bonds, European government bonds, swaps/swaptions = 1-year, European credit, U.S. ETFs, equity convertibles/swaps/options, global repurchase agreements; record 17.6% share of fully electronic U.S. High Grade TRACE..."We had a very strong start to 2024, continuing last year's momentum thanks to broad-based organic growth and a number of important milestones. Our quarterly ADV climbed 39% from the prior year period to a record $1.9 trillion, with several more ADV records set across rates, credit, equities and money markets. Tradeweb captured a record 17.6% share of U.S. High Grade TRACE reflecting steady growth in an area of strategic focus and investment for us. In January, we finalized our acquisition of r8fin, a technology provider that specializes in algorithmic-based execution for U.S. Treasuries and interest rate futures, and we feel great about how this will strengthen our offering with macro hedge funds. In April, we agreed to acquire ICD, a leading institutional investment technology provider for corporate treasury organizations, which will add Corporates as a new client channel with significant cross-sell opportunities. We also recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of Tradeweb's IPO, and we remain laser-focused on keeping continued innovation and collaboration at the heart of Tradeweb's success. Now more than ever, we believe the future of trading is multi-asset class -- and innovative technology is how markets are going to get there."