Pensionfund Sabic Acquires Shares of 8,300 Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Pensionfund Sabic bought a new stake of 8,300 shares in Marsh & McLennan (NYSE:MRSH) during Q4, valued at about $1.54 million, and institutional investors now own roughly 87.99% of the stock.
• Marsh & McLennan topped Q4 estimates with $2.12 EPS vs. $1.97 expected and $6.60 billion in revenue (up 8.7% year-over-year), with a market cap near $83.8 billion and a PE of about 20.5.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share (annualized $3.60, ~2.1% yield; ex-dividend April 9, payable May 15), while CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares (~$3.05M), reducing his stake by 12.48%.

Pensionfund Sabic bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 8,300 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,540,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MRSH. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 51.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 8,738 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,856,000 after purchasing an additional 2,960 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 39.6% in the 4th quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 3,064 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $651,000 after buying an additional 869 shares in the last quarter. Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $263,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $1,064,000. Finally, Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 8.8% in the second quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,391 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $304,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

NYSE:MRSH opened at $173.01 on Wednesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $164.89 and a 1 year high of $248.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $177.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.76 billion, a PE ratio of 20.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.74.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on MRSH shares. Mizuho reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $199.00 price objective (down from $213.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Friday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings initiated coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. They issued a "hold (c)" rating for the company. Finally, Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $225.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $212.06.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the business's 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,411,456.30. The trade was a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.35% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company 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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