Avity Investment Management Inc. Increases Stock Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Avity Investment Management increased its Marsh & McLennan position by 18.4% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 249,522 shares valued at approximately $42.6 million. Institutional investors collectively own nearly 88% of the company.
• Marsh & McLennan reported quarterly EPS of $2.96, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.89, while revenue rose 6.2% year over year to $7.28 billion. The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.99 per share, representing a 2.3% yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with the stock carrying a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $202.12; recent targets range from $188 to $222. Shares recently traded at $175.70, below the consensus target.

Avity Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 18.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 249,522 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 38,864 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies makes up about 2.6% of Avity Investment Management Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Avity Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.05% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $42,601,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $252,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 668 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Columbia Bank raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.1% in the first quarter. Columbia Bank now owns 1,736 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Capital Analysts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 37.4% during the second quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 312 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp boosted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 26.8% during the second quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp now owns 454 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MRSH traded down $0.97 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $175.70. 1,966,454 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,812,983. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $182.52. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $156.60 and a 1 year high of $207.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The company had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 1st. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.41%.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $141,174.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 16,376 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,242,448. The trade was a 4.17% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total value of $1,348,929.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 16,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. This trade represents a 29.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 19,813 shares of company stock worth $3,597,903. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MRSH has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $201.00 to $190.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $216.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised Marsh & McLennan Companies to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $202.12.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

Marsh & McLennan Companies, now operating under the name Marsh McLennan, is a global professional services firm that provides advice and solutions in risk, strategy and people. The company serves businesses, governments and institutions through four principal businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman.

Marsh is an insurance brokerage and risk adviser that helps clients identify, manage and transfer risk. Guy Carpenter provides reinsurance brokerage and advisory services to insurance companies.

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