Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Shares Acquired by JB Capital LLC

Key Points

• JB Capital LLC increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan by 32.2%, raising its holdings to 27,414 shares worth about $5.09 million; other funds also added large positions (Assenagon now owns 1,520,164 shares) and institutional investors hold roughly 87.99% of the stock.
• Marsh & McLennan beat Q4 expectations with EPS of $2.12 versus $1.97 and revenue of $6.60 billion (up 8.7% year-over-year); analysts project about 9.61 EPS for the current year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 (annualized $3.60, ~2.1% yield; ex-dividend April 9, payable May 15), while CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares for roughly $3.05 million, cutting his ownership by 12.48%.

JB Capital LLC raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 32.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,414 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 6,672 shares during the quarter. JB Capital LLC's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $5,086,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 9,455.4% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,520,164 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $282,021,000 after purchasing an additional 1,504,255 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 9.1% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 15,091,478 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $3,041,386,000 after purchasing an additional 1,260,434 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 654.7% in the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,419,104 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $285,992,000 after buying an additional 1,231,059 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 29.7% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,293,188 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $663,676,000 after buying an additional 753,828 shares during the period. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 93.4% during the third quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 1,379,436 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $277,998,000 after buying an additional 666,023 shares during the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of MRSH opened at $174.49 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $164.89 and a twelve month high of $248.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $84.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.75. The business's 50-day moving average is $175.70.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $6.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.52 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 31.60%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.87 EPS. Analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies's payout ratio is presently 42.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total value of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on MRSH shares. Evercore reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $205.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $209.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $212.06.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies NYSE: MMC is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York City that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Founded in 1905, the company has grown into a diversified group of businesses focused on insurance brokerage and risk management, reinsurance, human capital and investment consulting, and management consulting. Its long history and scale position it as a prominent adviser to corporations, governments and other institutions seeking to manage risk and optimize human and financial capital.

The firm operates through several well-known subsidiaries and business units that specialize in distinct services.

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