Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) Sets New 52-Week High - What's Next?

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $235.50 and last traded at $234.66, with a volume of 330391 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $231.56.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MMC. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and raised their price target for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $242.00 target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $236.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $230.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 0.7 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $117.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.96. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $221.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $222.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.60% and a net margin of 16.60%. Equities research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a $0.815 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.36%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is presently 39.80%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter valued at $258,000. Optas LLC grew its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.1% during the third quarter. Optas LLC now owns 1,943 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $433,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter worth about $223,000. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 85.7% during the third 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. Finally, Prossimo Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Prossimo Advisors LLC now owns 1,827 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $408,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company 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.