Stokes Capital Advisors LLC Cuts Stock Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Stokes Capital Advisors LLC cut its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 9.7% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 38,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 4,139 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies accounts for approximately 1.6% of Stokes Capital Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Stokes Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $7,134,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MRSH. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 31.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 214 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.2% in the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 4,514 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $910,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 2,279 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $423,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 6.7% during the second quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. now owns 949 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $207,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lindenwold Advisors INC lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Lindenwold Advisors INC now owns 14,994 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,022,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total transaction of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. The trade was a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of MRSH stock opened at $173.92 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $176.71. The stock has a market cap of $84.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.74. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $164.89 and a 1 year high of $248.00.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.60% and a net margin of 15.42%.The business had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.87 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on MRSH shares. Citigroup boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $201.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on 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. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $225.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Evercore lowered their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $212.06.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.