Cetera Investment Advisers Buys 11,668 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Key Points

• Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6%, acquiring an additional 11,668 shares, resulting in a total of 104,188 shares valued at approximately $25.4 million.
• Marsh & McLennan reported a quarterly earnings per share of $2.72, beating analysts' expectations, with revenue reaching $6.97 billion, a 12.1% increase year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.90 per share, which signifies an annualized dividend of $3.60 with a yield of 1.71%.

Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 12.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 104,188 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 11,668 shares during the quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers' holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $25,425,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. City Holding Co. purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter valued at about $37,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,000. Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the first quarter worth $42,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 133.8% during the first quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 187 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

NYSE MMC traded up $0.16 during trading on Thursday, reaching $200.72. The company's stock had a trading volume of 808,978 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,254,914. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $217.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $224.45. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $198.77 and a 12 month high of $248.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.80.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The financial services provider reported $2.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.66 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.92 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.00% and a return on equity of 31.90%. The company's revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.41 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 24th will be given a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 24th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.79%. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. Marsh & McLennan Companies's payout ratio is 43.17%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on MMC. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $261.00 to $258.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $229.00 to $226.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $239.79.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.