Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Has $19.80 Million Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC

Key Points

• Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC reduced its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. by 5.4%, now holding 81,144 shares worth approximately $19.8 million.
• Marsh & McLennan's most recent earnings report showed an adjusted EPS of $2.72, exceeding analysts' estimates and marking a 12.1% revenue increase compared to the previous year.
• The company recently announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.90 per share, with a yield of 1.7% and a payout ratio of 43.17%.

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC cut its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 5.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 81,144 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 4,665 shares during the quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $19,802,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,321,445 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $11,059,792,000 after purchasing an additional 581,930 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,151,020 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,156,179,000 after purchasing an additional 96,750 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 5,934,340 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,260,513,000 after purchasing an additional 726,713 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 13.2% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 5,218,488 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,108,459,000 after purchasing an additional 609,602 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 7.2% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 4,581,773 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $973,214,000 after purchasing an additional 308,759 shares in the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock traded up $0.30 on Friday, hitting $207.29. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,767,649 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,644,554. The firm has a market cap of $101.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 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. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $211.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $223.38. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $196.27 and a one year high of $248.00.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.66 by $0.06. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.00% and a return on equity of 31.90%. The business had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.92 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.41 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 24th were given a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 24th. This is a boost from Marsh & McLennan Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 43.17%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MMC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Wednesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $226.00 price target for the company. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of 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. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Wednesday. They set an "overweight" rating and a $256.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $239.94.

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.