Capital World Investors Boosts Stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Capital World Investors raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 0.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,702,898 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 92,767 shares during the quarter. Capital World Investors owned 3.61% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $3,567,410,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter worth approximately $45,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $201.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $199.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $216.18.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of MRSH opened at $179.92 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The company has a market capitalization of $87.10 billion, a price-to-earnings 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 52-week low of $170.37 and a 52-week high of $248.00.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

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

Insider Activity

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company 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.