Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. Acquires 3,664 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 18.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 23,227 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,664 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $4,309,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. City Holding Co. bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.6%

MRSH opened at $164.14 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $158.16 and a 1-year high of $235.78. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $168.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The company has a market cap of $79.08 billion, a PE ratio of 20.52, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.65.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.21 by $0.08. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.87% and a net margin of 14.26%.The business had revenue of $7.30 billion for the quarter. The business’s revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th were paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is 45.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. This represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. Mizuho cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $199.00 to $193.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Bank of America cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $181.00 to $174.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $226.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $205.00.

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.