Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Brokerages

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC - Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of "Hold" by the fourteen brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have issued a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $241.93.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. They set a "buy" rating and a $281.00 target price for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price 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. Barclays boosted their price target on 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. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock traded down $2.21 on Thursday, reaching $217.19. 1,574,516 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,938,559. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a 1-year low of $207.21 and a 1-year high of $248.00. The firm has a market cap of $107.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.83. 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 company's 50-day moving average is $226.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $225.34.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 9,569 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.00, for a total transaction of $2,344,405.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 20,935 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,129,075. This represents a 31.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,237 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total value 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. The trade was a 14.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Modern Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $287,000. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 1st quarter valued at $38,389,000. Jacobi Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 16.3% in the first quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 1,270 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 10.3% during the first quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 2,417 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $590,000 after buying an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McAdam LLC raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.2% during the first quarter. McAdam LLC now owns 3,948 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $963,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.