Legal & General Group Plc cut its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 17.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,535,195 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 768,837 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned 0.72% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $750,911,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.2% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,905,431 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,648,304,000 after purchasing an additional 251,361 shares during the last quarter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 67.2% in the 4th quarter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. now owns 8,211 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,744,000 after buying an additional 3,300 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 197.5% during the 3rd quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 11,116 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,480,000 after buying an additional 7,380 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 85,424 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $19,461,000 after acquiring an additional 3,553 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 6.3% in the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 106,485 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $22,618,000 after acquiring an additional 6,310 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company's stock.
Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance
MMC stock traded up $4.75 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $233.52. The stock had a trading volume of 2,500,152 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,850,884. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $232.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $224.62. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $196.17 and a 52 week high of $248.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $115.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.85.
Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.60% and a net margin of 16.60%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.
Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be given a $0.815 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 3rd. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.40%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 39.80%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several research firms have weighed in on MMC. Raymond James reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $250.00 price target (up previously from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays lifted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $246.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $223.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $236.12.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Marsh & McLennan Companies
Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies
In related news, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,317 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total value of $309,455.49. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 2,923 shares of the company's stock, valued at $686,817.31. The trade was a 31.06 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 7,121 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total value of $1,673,221.37. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 20,935 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,919,096.95. This trade represents a 25.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 69,634 shares of company stock worth $16,244,986. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.
Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile
(
Free Report)
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.
Featured Articles
Before you consider Marsh & McLennan Companies, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Marsh & McLennan Companies wasn't on the list.
While Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Wondering what the next stocks will be that hit it big, with solid fundamentals? Enter your email address to see which stocks MarketBeat analysts could become the next blockbuster growth stocks.
Get This Free Report
