Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd Invests $14.20 Million in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Lombard Odier Asset Management Europe Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 85,223 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $14,204,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRSH. 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 valued at $1,823,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC now owns 4,083 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $757,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% in the first quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $252,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6% in the first quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 668 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $116,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC increased its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC now owns 8,883 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,648,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $201.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $216.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective 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. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $203.50.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

MRSH stock opened at $192.90 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $156.60 and a one year high of $207.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $182.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.58, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The business had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total value of $1,348,929.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. This trade represents a 29.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of the company’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 value of $141,174.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 16,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,242,448. The trade was a 4.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345 in the last three months. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.