Rathbones Group PLC Invests $235.37 Million in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Rathbones Group PLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 1,356,972 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $235,367,000. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises 0.9% of Rathbones Group PLC’s holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $4,057,682,000. Capital International Investors acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,482,557,000. Capital World Investors purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,140,284,000. Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,967,927,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth $1,710,101,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total value of $141,174.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 16,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,242,448. This trade represents a 4.17% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. The trade was a 29.92% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345 in the last three months. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of MRSH stock opened at $189.89 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $156.60 and a twelve month high of $213.80. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $173.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.62 billion, a PE ratio of 23.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The business had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be paid a $0.99 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 23rd. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. This is a boost from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MRSH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $182.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $201.94.

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.