National Pension Service Has $166.74 Million Position in Aon plc $AON

National Pension Service raised its holdings in shares of Aon plc (NYSE:AON) by 12.4% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 472,500 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 52,077 shares during the period. National Pension Service’s holdings in AON were worth $166,736,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in AON by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 70 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new stake in AON during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in AON during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Strive Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in AON during the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new stake in AON during the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Institutional investors own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

AON Stock Performance

NYSE AON opened at $315.63 on Friday. Aon plc has a 1 year low of $304.59 and a 1 year high of $381.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 1.95. The firm has a market cap of $67.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.32, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $321.71 and a 200-day moving average price of $334.14.

AON (NYSE:AON) last posted its earnings results on Saturday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $6.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.67 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Aon plc will post 19.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AON Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st were paid a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 1st. This is a positive change from AON’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.36%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AON has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of AON from $412.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America upgraded shares of AON from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $398.00 to $397.00 in a research note on Friday, February 27th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of AON in a research note on Monday, March 16th. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of AON from $394.00 to $389.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $385.00 target price on shares of AON in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $396.81.

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.