Capital Research Global Investors Raises Stock Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,861,067 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 68,826 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors owned approximately 2.01% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $1,987,301,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 51.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 8,738 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,856,000 after acquiring an additional 2,960 shares during the period. Bison Wealth LLC raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 39.6% during the 4th quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 3,064 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $651,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares in the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 60.8% during the second quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 1,661 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $363,000 after buying an additional 628 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,959 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $866,000 after acquiring an additional 446 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RWA Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. RWA Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,171 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,787,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James Financial raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $225.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Barclays upped their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Evercore reduced their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $216.18.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of MRSH stock opened at $179.92 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $87.10 billion, a PE ratio of 21.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.74. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $170.37 and a 12-month high of $248.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.52 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 31.60%. The company’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.87 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 42.70%.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total value of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at $21,411,456.30. The trade was a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York City that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Founded in 1905, the company has grown into a diversified group of businesses focused on insurance brokerage and risk management, reinsurance, human capital and investment consulting, and management consulting. Its long history and scale position it as a prominent adviser to corporations, governments and other institutions seeking to manage risk and optimize human and financial capital.

The firm operates through several well-known subsidiaries and business units that specialize in distinct services.