Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD Increases Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 10,151,020 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 96,750 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD owned approximately 2.07% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $2,156,179,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MMC. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MMC opened at $219.61 on Wednesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $196.72 and a 12-month high of $248.00. The company has a market cap of $108.25 billion, a PE ratio of 26.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.85. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $232.39 and a 200 day moving average of $224.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.02 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $6.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.08 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.89 earnings per share. As a group, 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be paid a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 3rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on MMC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $281.00 price objective for the company. Raymond James restated an "outperform" rating and set a $250.00 target price (up previously from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $241.93.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 7,121 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies 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 sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 20,935 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,919,096.95. The trade was a 25.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,237 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total value of $550,302.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,522 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,326,412. The trade was a 14.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 69,634 shares of company stock worth $16,244,986. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.

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