AON (NYSE:AON) Reaches New 52-Week High – Here’s Why

Aon plc (NYSE:AON)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $411.85 and last traded at $411.94, with a volume of 52326 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $409.12.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on AON shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of AON from $410.00 to $445.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of AON from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on AON from $372.00 to $384.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on AON from $411.00 to $414.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on AON from $394.00 to $440.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $386.21.

AON Stock Down 0.1 %

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $374.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $365.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.40. The company has a market capitalization of $87.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.93, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.93.

AON (NYSE:AON) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $4.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.25 by $0.17. AON had a net margin of 16.91% and a return on equity of 70.84%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.89 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Aon plc will post 17.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AON Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $2.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.67%. AON’s payout ratio is currently 21.33%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AON

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AON in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of AON by 2,025.0% in the fourth quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 85 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of AON during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of AON by 1,162.5% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 101 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, First Personal Financial Services bought a new position in AON in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. 86.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About AON

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It focuses on risk capital including claim management, reinsurance, risk analysis, management, retention, and transfer; and human capital involving analytics, health and benefits, investments, pensions and retirement, talent and rewards, and workplace wellbeing.