Fayez Sarofim & Co Purchases New Shares in Aon plc (NYSE:AON)

Fayez Sarofim & Co purchased a new stake in Aon plc (NYSE:AON - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 16,442 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $5,905,000.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of AON in the 4th quarter worth about $596,665,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of AON by 86.7% during the fourth quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 2,067,551 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $742,582,000 after purchasing an additional 960,204 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in AON by 14.5% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,949,919 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,773,165,000 after acquiring an additional 627,742 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of AON by 5,877.4% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 536,174 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $192,572,000 after purchasing an additional 527,204 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of AON by 43,000.8% during the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 390,924 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $140,404,000 after purchasing an additional 390,017 shares during the period. 86.14% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AON Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AON traded down $5.28 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $363.55. 1,889,854 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,238,602. Aon plc has a 12 month low of $268.06 and a 12 month high of $412.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.53 billion, a PE ratio of 28.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.82. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $388.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $375.63.

AON (NYSE:AON - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $4.42 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.25 by $0.17. AON had a return on equity of 70.84% and a net margin of 16.91%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.89 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Aon plc will post 17.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AON Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 1st will be given a $0.745 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 1st. This is a positive change from AON's previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.98 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.82%. AON's payout ratio is 23.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of AON to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Barclays reduced their price target on AON from $440.00 to $430.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of AON from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $407.00 to $420.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Redburn Partners set a $445.00 price objective on shares of AON in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price target on AON from $372.00 to $384.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $393.87.

AON Company Profile

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It focuses on risk capital including claim management, reinsurance, risk analysis, management, retention, and transfer; and human capital involving analytics, health and benefits, investments, pensions and retirement, talent and rewards, and workplace wellbeing.