272,729 Shares in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) Bought by Madison Investment Advisors LLC

Madison Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 272,729 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $57,930,000. Madison Investment Advisors LLC owned 0.06% of Marsh & McLennan Companies at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Impact Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth $1,639,000. Erste Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH now owns 353,975 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $75,331,000 after buying an additional 11,991 shares during the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 82.8% during the fourth quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 168,493 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,790,000 after purchasing an additional 76,336 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.9% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 28,788 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,115,000 after acquiring an additional 1,612 shares during the period. Finally, Great Lakes Advisors LLC raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 80.6% in the fourth quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 2,184 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $464,000 after acquiring an additional 975 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of MMC stock opened at $229.78 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $224.07 and its 200 day moving average is $223.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13. The company has a market capitalization of $112.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.95. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $196.17 and a one year high of $241.84.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. Sell-side analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be paid a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.80%.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,317 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total transaction of $309,455.49. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 2,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $686,817.31. This trade represents a 31.06 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 7,121 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total transaction of $1,673,221.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 20,935 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,919,096.95. This trade represents a 25.38 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on MMC shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $250.00 price objective (up from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $230.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.