Van ECK Associates Corp Sells 2,935 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Van ECK Associates Corp decreased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 104,879 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 2,935 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $22,277,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.2% in the 3rd 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 period. Louisbourg Investments Inc. raised its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 3,300 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 508,245 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $113,384,000 after purchasing an additional 23,445 shares during the period. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 16.8% in the 3rd quarter. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. now owns 27,004 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $6,024,000 after purchasing an additional 3,880 shares during the period. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 197.5% in the 3rd quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 11,116 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,480,000 after purchasing an additional 7,380 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MMC traded up $1.76 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $230.59. 406,124 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,133,479. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $196.17 and a 12 month high of $235.50. The firm has a market cap of $113.25 billion, a PE ratio of 28.14, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.96. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $217.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $221.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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%. Research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 30th were paid a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 30th. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MMC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. 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. UBS Group lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $255.00 to $259.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $236.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $230.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies 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.