Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC Shares Sold by Baird Financial Group Inc.

Key Points

• Baird Financial Group Inc. reduced its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.2%, now owning approximately 316,612 shares worth $77.26 million.
• Marsh & McLennan reported a 12.1% increase in revenue year-over-year for Q2, reaching $6.97 billion, and beat earnings per share estimates by $0.06.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.90, an increase from the previous $0.82, indicating a positive return to shareholders.

Baird Financial Group Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 1.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 316,612 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 3,842 shares during the quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $77,263,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MMC. Accent Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Activest Wealth Management increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2,775.0% during the first quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 115 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the period. City Holding Co. acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Capital Analysts LLC increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 61.0% during the first quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 169 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MMC traded down $0.42 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $205.02. 1,244,048 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,255,535. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $208.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $221.91. The company has a market cap of $100.79 billion, a PE ratio of 24.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $196.27 and a 12-month high of $248.00.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The financial services provider reported $2.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 return on equity of 31.90% and a net margin of 16.00%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.41 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 24th were paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 24th. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 43.17%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MMC has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Barclays decreased 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 research note on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $229.00 to $226.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $225.00 to $220.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Finally, 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 research note on Monday, July 21st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $238.76.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company 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.