Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) Sets New 1-Year High – Here’s Why

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday. The company traded as high as $213.89 and last traded at $212.1420, with a volume of 2,797 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $210.38.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $191.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 8th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $193.00 to $188.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $205.84.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 1.4%

The firm has a market capitalization of $101.46 billion, a PE ratio of 25.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.53. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $183.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.96 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.20% and a return on equity of 33.32%. The company had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 1st. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 47.37%.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO Dean Klisura sold 4,194 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $838,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 20,935 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,187,000. The trade was a 16.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,215 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total value of $243,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 2,705 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $541,000. This trade represents a 30.99% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Keybank National Association OH raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.0% in the third quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 21,369 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,648,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter worth about $212,000. Gen Wealth Partners Inc bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 25.1% in the 3rd quarter. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. now owns 71,927 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $12,280,000 after purchasing an additional 14,447 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DMKC Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,852,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies is a global professional services firm that provides advice and solutions in risk, strategy and people. The company serves businesses, governments and institutions through a portfolio of specialized businesses focused on insurance brokerage, reinsurance, consulting and talent management.

Its principal businesses include Marsh, an insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm; Guy Carpenter, a provider of reinsurance brokerage and related risk-management services; Mercer, which offers consulting in investment, retirement, health and workforce strategy; and Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm serving clients across industries and regions.

Founded in 1905, Marsh & McLennan serves clients in countries and markets around the world.