Barclays Lowers Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) Price Target to $206.00

Key Points

• Barclays lowered its price target on Marsh & McLennan to $206 from $209 but maintained an "overweight" rating, implying roughly a 17.6% upside from the current price.
• The company beat quarterly estimates with EPS of $2.12 (vs. $1.97) and revenue of $6.60B (vs. $6.52B), posting 8.7% revenue growth and a 31.6% ROE; analysts' consensus is a "Hold" with an average target of $211.19.
• CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares at $183.30 (reducing his stake by ~12.5%); insiders now own 0.35% of the stock while institutional investors hold about 88%.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by equities researchers at Barclays from $209.00 to $206.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "overweight" rating on the financial services provider's stock. Barclays's price objective indicates a potential upside of 17.64% from the company's current price.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Raymond James Financial raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $225.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $199.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $195.00 to $190.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and set a $200.00 price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Friday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $211.19.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

MRSH traded up $2.45 on Wednesday, hitting $175.11. 598,710 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,074,815. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $174.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a 12 month low of $164.89 and a 12 month high of $239.34. The company has a market capitalization of $84.78 billion, a PE ratio of 20.79, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.75.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.97 by $0.15. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.60% and a net margin of 15.42%.The business had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.52 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.87 EPS. Marsh & McLennan Companies's revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total transaction of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. This represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 31.3% in the 3rd quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 214 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.2% in the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 4,514 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $910,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the period. Procyon Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 2,279 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $423,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 1,758 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $326,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Finally, Lindenwold Advisors INC increased its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Lindenwold Advisors INC now owns 14,994 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $3,022,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.

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