Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Sells 40,787 Shares of Aon plc $AON

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC reduced its position in shares of Aon plc (NYSE:AON) by 55.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,664 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 40,787 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in AON were worth $11,413,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AON. Westside Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of AON by 100.0% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 70 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Watch Advisors INC purchased a new stake in AON in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in AON in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new stake in shares of AON in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Strive Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AON during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

AON Price Performance

Shares of AON opened at $323.16 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $329.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $343.65. Aon plc has a fifty-two week low of $304.59 and a fifty-two week high of $402.49. The stock has a market cap of $69.24 billion, a PE ratio of 18.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 2.03 and a current ratio of 2.03.

AON (NYSE:AON) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $4.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.75 by $0.10. AON had a return on equity of 45.23% and a net margin of 21.51%.The firm had revenue of $4.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.42 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Aon plc will post 17.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AON Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.745 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.98 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.51%.

Insider Activity

In other AON news, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 5,040 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.79, for a total transaction of $1,641,981.60. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel directly owned 20,254 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,598,550.66. This trade represents a 19.93% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lester B. Knight bought 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $319.24 per share, for a total transaction of $1,276,960.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 143,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $45,651,320. This represents a 2.88% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on shares of AON from $393.00 to $412.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $385.00 target price on shares of AON in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of AON in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays lifted their price objective on AON from $379.00 to $381.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded AON from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $397.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $406.69.

AON Profile

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.