Waycross Partners LLC Purchases 27,477 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Waycross Partners LLC grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 19.7% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 166,998 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 27,477 shares during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises 2.5% of Waycross Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Waycross Partners LLC’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $30,981,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 51.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 8,738 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,856,000 after purchasing an additional 2,960 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 39.6% during the fourth quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 3,064 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $651,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter worth $1,064,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 21,766.7% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,560 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,434,000 after buying an additional 6,530 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 36.9% during the 2nd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 2,365 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $517,000 after buying an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on MRSH. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Evercore dropped their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $205.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $200.00 price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $212.06.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total value of $3,052,861.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

MRSH opened at $169.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $176.34. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $164.89 and a one year high of $248.00. The company has a market capitalization of $81.94 billion, a PE ratio of 20.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.74.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.52 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.60% and a net margin of 15.42%.Marsh & McLennan Companies’s quarterly revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.87 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be issued a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 42.70%.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.