Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. Buys 3,664 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 18.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 23,227 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,664 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $4,309,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter valued at $29,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at $32,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at $35,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total transaction of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. This represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.6%

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $164.14 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $79.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.65. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $158.16 and a 1 year high of $235.78. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $168.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th were paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 45.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $195.00 to $190.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 6th. Barclays lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $200.00 target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $205.00.

Marsh & McLennan Companies 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.