Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp Makes New Investment in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp opened a new position in Marsh & McLennan during the fourth quarter, buying 38,729 shares worth about $7.18 million.
• Marsh & McLennan reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings of $3.29 per share versus $3.21 expected, with revenue rising 7.6% year over year to $7.3 billion.
• The stock is trading near its lower end of the 52-week range, and analysts currently have a Hold consensus rating with an average price target of $203.56.

Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 38,729 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $7,184,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter worth about $29,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter worth about $32,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at about $35,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of MRSH opened at $162.44 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $78.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.62. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $157.74 and a one year high of $235.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $164.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $171.56.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.21 by $0.08. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.87% and a net margin of 14.26%.The firm had revenue of $7.30 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies's quarterly revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total transaction of $3,052,861.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MRSH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $226.00 to $206.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Barclays lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on 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. Weiss Ratings lowered Marsh & McLennan Companies from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on 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 investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $203.56.

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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