Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC Stake Increased by Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 8.4% during the second quarter, owning a total of 184,725 shares valued at approximately $40.4 million.
• Marsh & McLennan reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $2.72, exceeding analyst expectations, along with revenues of $6.97 billion for the quarter.
• The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share, with an annualized dividend yield of 1.7%, set to be paid on November 14th.

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 8.4% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 184,725 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 14,285 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $40,388,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MMC. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.8% during the second quarter. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLC now owns 34,772 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $7,603,000 after purchasing an additional 938 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 13.0% during the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 67,440 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $14,747,000 after purchasing an additional 7,772 shares during the last quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.3% during the second quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC now owns 32,857 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $7,184,000 after purchasing an additional 407 shares during the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 14.8% during the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,793 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,797,000 after purchasing an additional 1,651 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lindenwold Advisors INC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.5% during the second quarter. Lindenwold Advisors INC now owns 14,932 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $3,265,000 after purchasing an additional 508 shares during the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:MMC opened at $207.12 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $101.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.81. The stock's 50-day moving average is $203.29 and its 200-day moving average is $215.37. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $195.01 and a 52-week high of $248.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.20.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 2nd will be paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 2nd. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 21,079 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $205.65, for a total value of $4,334,896.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 87,681 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,031,597.65. This trade represents a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MMC shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $226.00 to $222.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $226.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $258.00 to $257.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $237.13.

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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