J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG Acquires 123,816 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC

J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 9,575.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 125,109 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 123,816 shares during the period. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $25,213,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,158,562 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $10,092,108,000 after acquiring an additional 837,117 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,684,210 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,762,513,000 after acquiring an additional 196,475 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,328,587,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 3,443,454 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $752,877,000 after acquiring an additional 32,118 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.5% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,901,598 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $634,405,000 after purchasing an additional 43,462 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MMC opened at $182.39 on Tuesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $174.18 and a fifty-two week high of $248.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.35 billion, a PE ratio of 21.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.76. 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 stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $183.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $193.68.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

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 given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 29th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.17%.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies 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 transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 87,681 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,977,231.82. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MMC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $199.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Bank of America reiterated an “underperform” rating and set a $181.00 price target (down from $243.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Barclays boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $218.82.

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.