Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Capital Group Private Client Services cut its stake in Marsh & McLennan by 75.5% in Q3, selling 565,340 shares and leaving 183,444 shares worth $36.97 million (MRSH is now 0.6% of its portfolio and its 27th-largest holding).
• CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares on March 4 at an average price of $183.30 for roughly $3.05 million, reducing his ownership by 12.48%; corporate insiders now hold just 0.35% of the stock.
• Marsh & McLennan beat January-quarter estimates with $2.12 EPS and $6.60 billion in revenue, announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 (annualized $3.60, 2.0% yield, ex-dividend April 9), and carries a MarketBeat consensus rating of Hold with an average target of $216.18.

Capital Group Private Client Services Inc. cut its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 75.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 183,444 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 565,340 shares during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises 0.6% of Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Capital Group Private Client Services Inc.'s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $36,969,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rockland Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 801.6% in the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 12,073 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,433,000 after purchasing an additional 10,734 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,158,562 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $10,092,108,000 after buying an additional 837,117 shares in the last quarter. Navera Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 7.0% in the 3rd quarter. Navera Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,623,960 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $327,303,000 after buying an additional 105,954 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 41.7% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,202,372 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $443,844,000 after buying an additional 647,987 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bridges Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. now owns 76,196 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $15,356,000 after acquiring an additional 3,177 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,411,456.30. This represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.0%

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $179.92 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of $87.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.34, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.74. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $170.37 and a fifty-two week high of $248.00.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.52 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 31.60%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.87 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on MRSH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Evercore cut their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Mizuho restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $199.00 target price (down from $213.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Finally, Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $225.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eleven 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 presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $216.18.

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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