Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Position Boosted by Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd

Key Points

• Institutional ownership increased: Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management raised its Marsh & McLennan stake by 9.2% to 153,200 shares valued at $26.2 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 87.99% of the company.
• Quarterly results exceeded expectations: Marsh & McLennan reported earnings of $2.03 per share, topping estimates by $0.07, while revenue rose 8.1% year over year to $6.86 billion.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: The stock carries a consensus “Hold” rating with a $204.26 average price target, compared with a share price of $188.81. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.99, implying a 2.1% annualized yield.

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd lifted its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 9.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 153,200 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 12,907 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $26,156,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MRSH. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter valued at approximately $6,583,806,000. Corient Private Wealth LP bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $66,475,000. Ninety One UK Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 41.8% during the third quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 5,632,700 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $961,671,000 after purchasing an additional 1,661,178 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $685,621,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the second quarter worth $575,845,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. The trade was a 29.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Lloyd M. Yates sold 12,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.65, for a total transaction of $2,107,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 12,001 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,107,975.65. The trade was a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 19,813 shares of company stock worth $3,597,903 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.38% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

NYSE:MRSH opened at $188.81 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $181.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.09. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $156.60 and a 52 week high of $198.49. The company has a market cap of $89.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.96 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.20% and a return on equity of 33.32%. The company had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter. The company's revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a $0.99 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 1st. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MRSH has been the subject of several analyst reports. Citigroup raised their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $179.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Weiss Ratings raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Evercore lowered their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $234.00 to $224.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $180.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $204.26.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies is a global professional services firm that provides advice and solutions in risk, strategy and people. The company serves businesses, governments and institutions through a portfolio of specialized businesses focused on insurance brokerage, reinsurance, consulting and talent management.

Its principal businesses include Marsh, an insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm; Guy Carpenter, a provider of reinsurance brokerage and related risk-management services; Mercer, which offers consulting in investment, retirement, health and workforce strategy; and Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm serving clients across industries and regions.

Founded in 1905, Marsh & McLennan serves clients in countries and markets around the world.

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