Checchi Capital Advisers LLC Acquires New Shares in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Checchi Capital Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,319 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $923,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Nwam LLC purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $257,000. Calamos Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter worth approximately $425,000. Calamos Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $23,263,000. AMG National Trust Bank purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter valued at about $228,000. Finally, Mattern Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $953,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 1.0%

NYSE MRSH opened at $176.29 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $85.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $156.60 and a 12 month high of $216.32.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.21 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $7.30 billion for the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.26% and a return on equity of 31.87%. The business’s revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.37 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be given a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 45.00%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at $18,889,506.81. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $178.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $194.00 to $197.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $212.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $200.81.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.