Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) Stock Rated “Hold” by Wall Street Brokerages

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) have received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the eighteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $202.81.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on MRSH shares. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $201.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $180.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Erste Group Bank raised shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Citigroup lowered shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 target price for the company. in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of MRSH opened at $171.89 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $183.30. The company has a market cap of $82.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.59. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a 52 week low of $156.60 and a 52 week high of $207.82. 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 earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 10.43 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 1st. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is presently 48.41%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. This represents a 29.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $141,174.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 16,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,242,448. This trade represents a 4.17% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 19,813 shares of company stock valued at $3,597,903. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Marsh & McLennan Companies

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MRSH. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $252,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC lifted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 668 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Columbia Bank grew its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Columbia Bank now owns 1,736 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $301,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Capital Analysts LLC increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 37.4% during the second quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 312 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 26.8% in the second quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp now owns 454 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

Marsh & McLennan Companies, now operating under the name Marsh McLennan, is a global professional services firm that provides advice and solutions in risk, strategy and people. The company serves businesses, governments and institutions through four principal businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman.

Marsh is an insurance brokerage and risk adviser that helps clients identify, manage and transfer risk. Guy Carpenter provides reinsurance brokerage and advisory services to insurance companies.