Heritage Trust Co Sells 1,268 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Key Points

• Heritage Trust Co reduced its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. by 7.3% during Q1, now holding 16,011 shares valued at approximately $3.9 million.
• Marsh & McLennan recently announced an increased quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share, up from the previous $0.82.
• Analyst ratings vary, with two having a sell rating, seven a hold rating, and five a buy rating, while the average price target for the stock is $239.79.

Heritage Trust Co decreased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 7.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,011 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 1,268 shares during the period. Heritage Trust Co's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $3,907,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at about $37,000. City Holding Co. bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Garde Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 1st quarter worth $42,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial lifted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 133.8% in the 1st quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 187 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of MMC traded down $1.48 during trading on Thursday, reaching $202.42. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,030,083 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,282,343. The company has a market cap of $99.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $196.27 and a twelve month high of $248.00. The company has a fifty day moving average of $214.89 and a two-hundred day moving average of $223.98.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The financial services provider reported $2.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.66 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.92 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.00% and a return on equity of 31.90%. The firm's revenue was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.41 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 24th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 24th. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.17%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MMC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays lowered their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $261.00 to $258.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $229.00 to $226.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $239.79.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.