Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $112.22 Million Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Principal Financial Group reduced its stake in Marsh & McLennan by 22.2% in Q4, selling 172,311 shares and now holds 604,866 shares worth about $112.22 million (≈0.12% of the company).
• CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares on March 4 at an average price of $183.30 (~$3.05M), cutting his ownership by 12.48% to 116,811 shares.
• Marsh & McLennan beat quarterly EPS estimates ($3.29 vs. $3.21) with $7.30 billion in revenue (up 7.6%), announced a $0.90 quarterly dividend (2.2% yield), and carries a MarketBeat consensus rating of "Hold" with an average target of $205.00.

Principal Financial Group Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 22.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 604,866 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 172,311 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.12% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $112,215,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of MRSH. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.38% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $164.12 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $79.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.65. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $172.92. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $163.81 and a twelve month 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.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $7.30 billion during the quarter. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 9th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Marsh & McLennan Companies's payout ratio is currently 45.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MRSH shares. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Monday, April 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $226.00 to $206.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price 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. Finally, Evercore lowered their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $205.00.

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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