Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich Takes Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Munich Re purchased a new stake of 230,498 shares of Marsh & McLennan (NYSE:MRSH) in Q4, valued at about $43.19 million.
• Marsh & McLennan beat quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $3.29 EPS vs. $3.21 estimate and revenue of $7.30 billion (up 7.6% year-over-year); analysts' consensus rating is "Hold" with an average target of $205.33.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 (annualized $3.60, ~2.1% yield), while CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares in March, reducing his holdings by 12.48%.

Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 230,498 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $43,186,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Numerai GP LLC increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 966.2% during the third quarter. Numerai GP LLC now owns 37,220 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $7,501,000 after acquiring an additional 33,729 shares during the period. Rockland Trust Co. increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 801.6% during the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 12,073 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,433,000 after acquiring an additional 10,734 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 41.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,202,372 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $443,844,000 after acquiring an additional 647,987 shares during the period. Navera Investment Management Ltd. grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 7.0% in the third quarter. Navera Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,623,960 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $327,303,000 after buying an additional 105,954 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bridges Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.4% in the third quarter. Bridges Investment Management Inc. now owns 76,196 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $15,356,000 after buying an additional 3,177 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on MRSH. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $199.00 to $193.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $201.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $178.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $205.33.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total value of $3,052,861.50. Following 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 position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 2.2%

Shares of NYSE:MRSH opened at $170.13 on Friday. The firm's fifty day moving average is $174.01. The firm has a market cap of $81.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.75. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $164.89 and a 12-month high of $235.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.21 by $0.08. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.26% and a return on equity of 31.87%. The business had revenue of $7.30 billion during the quarter. The firm's revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th will be issued a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.00%.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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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