Schroder Investment Management Group Cuts Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Key Points

• Schroder Investment Management Group cut its stake in Marsh & McLennan by 9.8% in Q3 to 311,523 shares (≈$62.38M), while other large institutions (Vanguard, Norges Bank, JPMorgan) also adjusted positions and institutional ownership stands at about 87.99%.
• Marsh & McLennan beat estimates with Q EPS of $2.12 (vs. $1.97) and revenue of $6.60B (up 8.7% YoY), and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.90 ($3.60 annual, ~2.1% yield); the firm has a market cap of $84.2B and a PE of 20.63.
• CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares for roughly $3.05M, and analysts hold a consensus Hold rating on the stock with an average price target of $216.18.

Schroder Investment Management Group reduced its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH - Free Report) by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 311,523 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 33,718 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 0.06% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $62,376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MRSH. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,158,562 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $10,092,108,000 after purchasing an additional 837,117 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.6% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,684,210 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,762,513,000 after purchasing an additional 196,475 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the second quarter worth about $1,328,587,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 10.0% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,872,982 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $982,071,000 after buying an additional 441,029 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 3,443,454 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $752,877,000 after buying an additional 32,118 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.0%

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $173.93 on Wednesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $170.37 and a 52 week 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 company has a market cap of $84.20 billion, a PE ratio of 20.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.74.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. 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 is 42.70%.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total value of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Mizuho restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $199.00 price target (down from $213.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Friday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Weiss Ratings began coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Thursday, January 29th. They set a "hold (c)" rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $205.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $216.18.

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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