Two Sigma Advisers LP Grows Stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 2,041.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 274,100 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 261,300 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP owned approximately 0.06% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $58,222,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MMC. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $246.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $281.00 target price for the company. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $241.93.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $231.74 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The stock's fifty day moving average is $229.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $224.96. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $201.77 and a 52 week high of $248.00. The company has a market capitalization of $114.18 billion, a PE ratio of 28.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.85.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $3.06 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.02 by $0.04. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. The firm had revenue of $6.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.89 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.815 per share. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 3rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is presently 39.95%.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 7,121 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total value of $1,673,221.37. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 20,935 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,919,096.95. This represents a 25.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,317 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total value of $309,455.49. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 2,923 shares of the company's stock, valued at $686,817.31. The trade was a 31.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 69,634 shares of company stock worth $16,244,986. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.

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