ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. Acquires 10,666 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan by 9.2%, buying 10,666 shares to hold 126,320 shares worth $23.435 million at quarter-end, and roughly 88% of MRSH is owned by institutional investors.
• Solid quarterly results and dividend: MRSH reported $3.29 EPS on $7.30 billion revenue (revenue +7.6% YoY), and declared a $0.90 quarterly dividend (annualized $3.60, 2.2% yield, 45% payout ratio).
• Insider sale and analyst view: CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares at about $183.30 (reducing his position ~12.5%), while analysts’ consensus is a "Hold" with an average target of $205 and the company has a market cap near $80 billion.

ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 9.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 126,320 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 10,666 shares during the quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V.'s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $23,435,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, City Holding Co. purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 0.1%

MRSH stock opened at $166.15 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $162.85 and a twelve month high of $235.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $172.64.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.21 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $7.30 billion for the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.26% and a return on equity of 31.87%. The firm's revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.36 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is 45.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Friday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $195.00 to $190.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 6th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $178.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Citigroup raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $200.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $205.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction 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 sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,411,456.30. The trade was a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.38% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company 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.

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