Mizuho Increases Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) Price Target to $201.00

Key Points

• Mizuho raised its price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies to $201 from $197 while keeping a neutral rating, implying about 13.5% upside from the prior close.
• Recent earnings beat estimates, with Q2 EPS of $2.96 versus consensus of $2.89 and revenue of $7.28 billion, though analysts still note valuation and growth concerns.
• Wall Street remains mixed on MRSH: the stock has a consensus Hold rating and an average price target of about $201, with several firms recently adjusting targets and ratings in both directions.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by analysts at Mizuho from $197.00 to $201.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "neutral" rating on the financial services provider's stock. Mizuho's target price suggests a potential upside of 13.52% from the company's previous close.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on MRSH. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $182.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 26th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $178.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Citigroup lowered Marsh & McLennan Companies from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $200.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $201.06.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

NYSE MRSH traded down $4.53 on Wednesday, hitting $177.06. 990,881 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,930,897. The stock has a market capitalization of $85.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.15, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.61. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a fifty-two week low of $156.60 and a fifty-two week high of $213.80. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.87% and a net margin of 14.26%. Research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 10.36 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,889,506.81. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.38% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 9.5% in the fourth quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 134,542 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $24,960,000 after purchasing an additional 11,648 shares during the period. Essex LLC acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $2,891,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 20.6% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 88,934 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $16,499,000 after purchasing an additional 15,166 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,589,633 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $8,643,309,000 after buying an additional 387,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 26.6% in the 4th quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 35,293 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $6,549,000 after buying an additional 7,418 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.99% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Marsh & McLennan Companies

Here are the key news stories impacting Marsh & McLennan Companies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: MRSH reported Q2 earnings of $2.96 per share, topping estimates, with revenue of $7.28 billion and growth driven by consulting plus Risk & Insurance Services. Marsh (MRSH) Q2 Earnings and Revenues Top Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: One analyst note argued the company remains a buy after Q2, suggesting the quarter supports the longer-term investment case. Marsh & McLennan: Maintaining My 'Buy' Recommendation Following Q2 Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: William Blair kept a neutral stance, saying Q2 was solid and growth is stabilizing, but valuation still looks expensive. Marsh & McLennan: Solid Q2 and Stabilizing Growth, But Valuation Keeps Analyst Firm at Hold
• Neutral Sentiment: Citigroup downgraded MRSH from buy to neutral, but still raised the price target to $200, implying some upside from current levels. Benzinga
• Negative Sentiment: Investors appear focused on valuation and slower growth outlook in the earnings call commentary, which may be capping enthusiasm after the beat. Marsh & McLennan Earnings Call Highlights Growth, Challenges

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company 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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