Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) by 195.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 532,990 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 352,292 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP owned approximately 0.11% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $113,212,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Teewinot Capital Advisers L.L.C. acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth $41,839,000. Tidal Investments LLC increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 94.3% during the fourth quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 25,282 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $5,370,000 after buying an additional 12,269 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Wealth Partners Ltd. increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 20.7% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Wealth Partners Ltd. now owns 2,453 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $567,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. now owns 5,735 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,218,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth $214,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,237 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total transaction of $550,302.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 13,522 shares in the company, valued at $3,326,412. This trade represents a 14.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,317 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total transaction of $309,455.49. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 2,923 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $686,817.31. This represents a 31.06% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 69,634 shares of company stock worth $16,244,986 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.
Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 1.8%
NYSE MMC opened at $231.44 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $229.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $224.88. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $201.77 and a twelve month high of $248.00. The stock has a market cap of $114.04 billion, a PE ratio of 28.26, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.85.
Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $3.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 business had revenue of $6.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.89 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.
Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 3rd were paid a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 3rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies's payout ratio is presently 39.95%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities analysts have commented on MMC shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $246.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $281.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $241.93.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MMC
Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile
(
Free Report)
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.
See Also
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Free Report).
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.
Before you consider Marsh & McLennan Companies, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Marsh & McLennan Companies wasn't on the list.
While Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
If a company's CEO, COO, and CFO were all selling shares of their stock, would you want to know? MarketBeat just compiled its list of the twelve stocks that corporate insiders are abandoning. Complete the form below to see which companies made the list.
Get This Free Report
