Primecap Management Co. CA Buys New Stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Primecap Management Co. CA purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,145,025 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $357,511,000. Primecap Management Co. CA owned 0.45% of Marsh & McLennan Companies at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRSH. EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% during the second quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,337 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,823,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC now owns 4,083 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $757,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $252,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6% in the first quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 668 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $116,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC now owns 8,883 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,648,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of MRSH opened at $193.59 on Wednesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $156.60 and a twelve month high of $207.82. The company has a market capitalization of $92.38 billion, a PE ratio of 23.67, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $180.99.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd were given a dividend of $0.99 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.41%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total value of $1,348,929.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,159,913.68. The trade was a 29.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Lloyd M. Yates sold 12,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.65, for a total transaction of $2,107,800.00. Following the sale, the director owned 12,001 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,107,975.65. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345 over the last 90 days. 0.38% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on MRSH shares. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $201.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Weiss Ratings raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $203.50.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.