Principal Financial Group Inc. Sells 3,064 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Principal Financial Group Inc. trimmed its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 0.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 836,693 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 3,064 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.17% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $177,722,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MMC. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 85.7% in the third quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 130 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Albion Financial Group UT bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MMC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Raymond James reaffirmed 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. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $236.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $242.00 target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $230.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE MMC traded down $0.52 during trading on Friday, hitting $230.05. 2,193,747 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,152,310. The business's fifty day moving average is $218.22 and its 200 day moving average is $222.25. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $196.17 and a fifty-two week high of $235.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $112.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a dividend of $0.815 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 39.80%.

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.