3,383 Shares in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Acquired by PCM Encore LLC

PCM Encore LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 3,383 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $564,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. EP Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,337 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,823,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC now owns 4,083 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $757,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $252,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6% during the 1st quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 668 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC now owns 8,883 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,648,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,889,506.81. This represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $141,174.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 16,376 shares in the company, valued at $3,242,448. This trade represents a 4.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345. Insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MRSH opened at $190.26 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $179.41. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $156.60 and a 1 year high of $212.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $90.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.26, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 company had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm 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 is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 23rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 48.41%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Friday, August 7th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $216.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $203.50.

Marsh & McLennan Companies 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.