Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Stock Holdings Trimmed by California Public Employees Retirement System

California Public Employees Retirement System decreased its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 16.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,514,767 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 307,485 shares during the quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System owned 0.31% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $305,271,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chilton Investment Co. Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 52.3% during the 3rd quarter. Chilton Investment Co. Inc. now owns 4,934 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $994,000 after buying an additional 1,694 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 188.5% in the third quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 486,511 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $98,047,000 after acquiring an additional 317,877 shares in the last quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 506.2% during the third quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 162,725 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $32,794,000 after acquiring an additional 135,882 shares during the period. 44 Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.1% during the third quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,082 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $621,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 14.6% in the third quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 54,443 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $10,972,000 after purchasing an additional 6,922 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

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 transaction, 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 0.8%

Shares of NYSE MRSH opened at $172.18 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $170.37 and a 12 month high of $248.00. The firm has a market cap of $83.36 billion, a PE ratio of 20.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.74.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.52 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.87 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is 42.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MRSH has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective 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. Citigroup lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $201.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $199.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Raymond James Financial raised shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $225.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Mizuho reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $199.00 price objective (down from $213.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Friday, February 27th. 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 assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $216.12.

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.