Korea Investment CORP Reduces Stock Holdings in Aon plc (NYSE:AON)

Korea Investment CORP trimmed its position in Aon plc (NYSE:AON) by 29.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 111,201 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 47,237 shares during the quarter. Korea Investment CORP’s holdings in AON were worth $39,939,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new position in AON in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of AON by 2,025.0% during the 4th quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 85 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AON during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in AON by 1,162.5% in the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 101 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in AON during the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

AON Price Performance

NYSE:AON opened at $398.67 on Friday. Aon plc has a 12-month low of $268.06 and a 12-month high of $412.97. The firm has a market cap of $86.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.92. The company’s 50-day moving average is $388.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $371.75. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58.

AON (NYSE:AON) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $4.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.25 by $0.17. AON had a net margin of 16.91% and a return on equity of 70.84%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.89 EPS. Research analysts expect that Aon plc will post 17.21 EPS for the current year.

AON Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were issued a $0.675 dividend. This represents a $2.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.68%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AON shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of AON from $379.00 to $394.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on AON from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Evercore ISI raised AON from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $407.00 to $420.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on AON from $410.00 to $445.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on AON from $411.00 to $414.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $386.21.

About AON

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It focuses on risk capital including claim management, reinsurance, risk analysis, management, retention, and transfer; and human capital involving analytics, health and benefits, investments, pensions and retirement, talent and rewards, and workplace wellbeing.