Diversify Advisory Services LLC Acquires Shares of 2,717 Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Diversify Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 2,717 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $498,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Solstein Capital LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Asset Dedication LLC purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. SHP Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total value of $141,174.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 16,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,242,448. The trade was a 4.17% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,889,506.81. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345 over the last 90 days. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:MRSH opened at $190.26 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $179.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The company has a market capitalization of $90.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.59. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $156.60 and a 52 week high of $212.65.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The firm had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd were given a dividend of $0.99 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 dividend yield of 2.1%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MRSH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $216.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $182.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $203.50.

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.