Liberty Wealth Management LLC Makes New $4.47 Million Investment in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Key Points

• Liberty Wealth Management LLC has made a significant investment of $4.47 million in Marsh & McLennan Companies, acquiring 18,318 shares during the first quarter.
• Marsh & McLennan recently increased its quarterly dividend from $0.82 to $0.90, indicating a continuing commitment to shareholder returns with a dividend yield of 1.8%.
• The company reported earnings per share of $2.72, exceeding analyst expectations, with revenue increasing by 12.1% year-over-year to $6.97 billion.

Liberty Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 18,318 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $4,470,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. City Holding Co. purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the first quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial lifted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 133.8% in 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. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

MMC stock opened at $197.76 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $196.27 and a 52-week high of $248.00. 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 business has a fifty day moving average of $216.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $224.34. The stock has a market cap of $97.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.77.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

MMC has been the subject of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays cut 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. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $229.00 to $226.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 18th. UBS Group cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $261.00 to $258.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target 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. Two equities 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price 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.

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