W1M Asset Management Ltd Makes New $348.20 Million Investment in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

W1M Asset Management Ltd bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 2,090,489 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $348,202,000. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises 3.2% of W1M Asset Management Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,589,633 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $8,643,309,000 after purchasing an additional 387,100 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter worth $6,583,806,000. State Street Corp bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at about $4,057,682,000. Capital International Investors acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at about $3,482,557,000. Finally, Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $3,140,284,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,889,506.81. The trade was a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. The trade was a 29.92% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345. Company insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MRSH shares. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Mizuho increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $201.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $203.50.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of MRSH opened at $192.17 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $179.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $156.60 and a one year high of $212.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its 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. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The firm had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. The firm’s revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd were paid a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 23rd. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is 48.41%.

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.