Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Has Lowered Expectations for Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) Stock Price

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Free Report) had its price target lowered by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $215.00 to $214.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an underperform rating on the financial services provider's stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on MMC. Barclays reduced their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $223.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. They set a "buy" rating and a $281.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $240.50.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of MMC traded up $0.47 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $214.64. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,234,049 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,974,220. The firm has a market capitalization of $105.76 billion, a PE ratio of 26.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.80. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a one year low of $207.21 and a one year high of $248.00. The stock's 50-day moving average is $223.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $224.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.02 by $0.04. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.19% and a net margin of 16.13%. The firm had revenue of $6.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.89 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 24th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 24th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.68%. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. Marsh & McLennan Companies's dividend payout ratio is 39.95%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MMC. Parisi Gray Wealth Management bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $947,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 101.7% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 103,551 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $25,270,000 after acquiring an additional 52,218 shares during the period. Annex Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 63,300 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $15,447,000 after acquiring an additional 1,288 shares during the period. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $977,000. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 80,667 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $19,685,000 after acquiring an additional 10,853 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company's stock.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.