Aon plc $AON Stake Lessened by Fiducient Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Fiducient Advisors LLC cut its Aon stake by 54.9% in the fourth quarter, selling 145,577 shares and leaving it with 119,590 shares valued at about $42.2 million. Aon still made up 5.2% of the firm’s portfolio, its third-largest position.
• Aon posted solid quarterly results, with EPS of $6.48 beating estimates and revenue of $5.03 billion topping expectations. Revenue rose 6.4% year over year, and analysts expect full-year EPS of 19.1.
• The company raised its dividend to $0.82 per share quarterly from $0.75, putting the annualized payout at $3.28 and the yield at 1.0%. Wall Street remains broadly positive, with 13 Buy ratings and a consensus “Moderate Buy” target of $396.81.

Fiducient Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Aon plc (NYSE:AON - Free Report) by 54.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 119,590 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 145,577 shares during the period. AON accounts for 5.2% of Fiducient Advisors LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest position. Fiducient Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.06% of AON worth $42,201,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of AON. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of AON by 28.4% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 14,704 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $5,246,000 after purchasing an additional 3,253 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its holdings in AON by 9.1% in the second quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 98,084 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $34,992,000 after purchasing an additional 8,216 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in AON by 35.2% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 292,210 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $104,249,000 after buying an additional 76,061 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AON by 27.1% during the 2nd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,734 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $995,000 after buying an additional 583 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of AON by 46.1% in the 2nd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 40,044 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $14,286,000 after buying an additional 12,631 shares during the period. 86.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

AON Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE:AON opened at $318.36 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $67.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a current ratio of 1.95. Aon plc has a fifty-two week low of $304.59 and a fifty-two week high of $381.00. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $321.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $334.28.

AON (NYSE:AON - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $6.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.37 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $5.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. AON had a net margin of 22.54% and a return on equity of 43.50%. AON's revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $5.67 EPS. Analysts predict that Aon plc will post 19.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AON Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 1st. This is a boost from AON's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. AON's payout ratio is 16.36%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on AON. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of AON from $406.00 to $396.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Bank of America upgraded shares of AON from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $398.00 to $397.00 in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $408.00 price target on shares of AON in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of AON from $416.00 to $401.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of AON from $394.00 to $389.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $396.81.

AON Profile

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.

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