CCLA Investment Management Acquires 52,219 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

CCLA Investment Management raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 10.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 548,546 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 52,219 shares during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies accounts for about 1.8% of CCLA Investment Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. CCLA Investment Management owned approximately 0.11% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $116,527,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 85.7% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 130 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter worth $41,000. Bangor Savings Bank bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter worth $46,000. Finally, Richardson Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 390.9% during the second quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 270 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of MMC traded down $0.86 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $212.51. 2,368,197 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,093,455. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $188.31 and a twelve month high of $235.50. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $219.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $221.15.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $5.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.71 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.65% and a net margin of 16.82%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.57 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 8.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.815 per share. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.53%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is 40.15%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Oscar Fanjul sold 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.55, for a total value of $553,875.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 48,549 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,756,030.95. This trade represents a 4.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $220.00 price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $217.00 to $228.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $219.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $211.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $228.60.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.