Brokerages Set Aon plc (NYSE:AON) Price Target at $397.88

Shares of Aon plc (NYSE:AON) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the seventeen brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and thirteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $397.8750.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on AON shares. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of AON from $394.00 to $389.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of AON from $393.00 to $412.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of AON from $402.00 to $412.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $385.00 target price on shares of AON in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of AON from $381.00 to $372.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th.

AON Stock Up 1.4%

Shares of NYSE:AON opened at $315.34 on Friday. AON has a 12 month low of $304.59 and a 12 month high of $381.00. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $322.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $335.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. The firm has a market cap of $67.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.72.

AON (NYSE:AON) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $6.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.37 by $0.11. AON had a net margin of 22.54% and a return on equity of 43.50%. The firm had revenue of $5.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $5.67 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that AON will post 19.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AON Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st will be paid a $0.82 dividend. This is a boost from AON’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 1st. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. AON’s payout ratio is 16.36%.

Insider Activity

In other news, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 5,040 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.79, for a total value of $1,641,981.60. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 20,254 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,598,550.66. This trade represents a 19.93% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AON. Murphy Middleton Hinkle & Parker Inc. acquired a new stake in AON during the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,305,000. Callan Family Office LLC raised its holdings in AON by 220.7% during the 3rd quarter. Callan Family Office LLC now owns 11,675 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,163,000 after buying an additional 8,034 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC acquired a new stake in AON during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,752,000. Veritas Asset Management LLP raised its holdings in AON by 19.3% during the 3rd quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 2,053,673 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $732,299,000 after buying an additional 332,685 shares during the period. Finally, Savant Capital LLC raised its holdings in AON by 64.9% during the 3rd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 19,092 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,808,000 after buying an additional 7,512 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

AON Company Profile

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.