Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) Shares Purchased by Entropy Technologies LP

Key Points

• Entropy Technologies LP increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 231.4% in the first quarter, acquiring an additional 33,036 shares, which made it the firm's 4th largest position.
• The company's recent earnings report showed an EPS of $2.72, exceeding the estimate of $2.66, with revenues up 12.1% year-over-year, totaling $6.97 billion.
• Marsh & McLennan Companies announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share, representing an increase from its previous $0.82 dividend.

Entropy Technologies LP raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 231.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 47,314 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 33,036 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies makes up about 1.1% of Entropy Technologies LP's holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $11,546,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of MMC. Accent Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter worth about $25,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter worth about $37,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Garde Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $226.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $261.00 to $258.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $229.00 to $226.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Wednesday. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $256.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $239.94.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 2.4%

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock traded up $4.97 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $209.38. The stock had a trading volume of 2,069,503 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,298,132. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $212.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $223.64. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $196.27 and a twelve month high of $248.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The firm has a market cap of $102.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.11, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.77.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors 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 represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.17%.

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.