Alps Advisors Inc. Boosts Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC

Alps Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 47.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 119,481 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 38,280 shares during the quarter. Alps Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $24,079,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.8% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,158,562 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $10,092,108,000 after purchasing an additional 837,117 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.6% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,684,210 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,762,513,000 after purchasing an additional 196,475 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter worth $1,328,587,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 3,443,454 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $752,877,000 after buying an additional 32,118 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,901,598 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $634,405,000 after acquiring an additional 43,462 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 21,079 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.22, for a total value of $3,841,015.38. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 87,681 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,977,231.82. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on MMC shares. Citigroup lowered their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Mizuho initiated coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $212.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $199.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Bank of America restated an “underperform” rating and issued a $181.00 price objective (down from $243.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $216.88.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $89.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.12. The company’s fifty day moving average is $184.00 and its 200 day moving average is $191.97. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $174.18 and a 52 week high of $248.00.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 29th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.17%.

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.