Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) Receives $201.94 Average PT from Brokerages

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the eighteen research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $201.9375.

MRSH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 6th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $201.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 1.8%

NYSE MRSH opened at $184.41 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $178.11. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a 12-month low of $156.60 and a 12-month high of $213.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $88.00 billion, a PE ratio of 22.54, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The firm’s revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 10.43 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd were given a $0.99 dividend. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 23rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.41%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total value of $1,348,929.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,159,913.68. This trade represents a 29.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Lloyd M. Yates sold 12,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.65, for a total value of $2,107,800.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 12,001 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,107,975.65. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345. Company insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Equitable Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the second quarter valued at about $2,454,000. Coastal Bridge Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $654,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,929,000. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $306,000. Finally, Parvin Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter valued at approximately $538,000. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York City that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Founded in 1905, the company has grown into a diversified group of businesses focused on insurance brokerage and risk management, reinsurance, human capital and investment consulting, and management consulting. Its long history and scale position it as a prominent adviser to corporations, governments and other institutions seeking to manage risk and optimize human and financial capital.

The firm operates through several well-known subsidiaries and business units that specialize in distinct services.