Quilter Plc Acquires 29,166 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC

Quilter Plc lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 7.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 405,379 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 29,166 shares during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies makes up about 1.4% of Quilter Plc’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Quilter Plc’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $81,696,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 51.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 8,738 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,856,000 after buying an additional 2,960 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 39.6% in the 4th quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 3,064 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $651,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Norden Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 971 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $212,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 41.9% during the second quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,337 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,353,000 after purchasing an additional 4,529 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Novem Group bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter valued at approximately $823,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 21,079 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.22, for a total value of $3,841,015.38. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 87,681 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,977,231.82. This trade represents a 19.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $174.18 and a one year high of $248.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.12. The company has a market capitalization of $89.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.76. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $183.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $194.05.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 29th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 43.17%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $212.00 target price for the company. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $200.00 to $195.00 in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $218.82.

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.