PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab Trims Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab cut its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 2.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 100,250 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 2,780 shares during the quarter. PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $16,709,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. PFG Investments LLC raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 1,758 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $326,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,337 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,823,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. MMA Asset Management LLC raised its position 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 buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 1,449 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $269,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the period. Finally, Continuum Advisory LLC grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% during the first quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $252,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 1.0%

MRSH stock opened at $191.31 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $156.60 and a 1-year high of $213.80. 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 has a 50 day moving average of $175.15. The company has a market cap of $91.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The business had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be issued a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on MRSH. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Weiss Ratings lowered Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $182.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $201.94.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,159,913.68. This trade represents a 29.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,889,506.81. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 36,469 shares of company stock worth $6,291,345. Company insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

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.