Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC Shares Sold by Fifth Third Bancorp

Fifth Third Bancorp decreased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 14.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 164,318 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 28,112 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $33,115,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,328,587,000. Soundwatch Capital LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter worth approximately $560,820,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 212.6% during the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,285,194 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $499,635,000 after purchasing an additional 1,554,114 shares in the last quarter. Amundi raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 89.2% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 2,892,576 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $615,309,000 after buying an additional 1,363,706 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.8% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,158,562 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $10,092,108,000 after buying an additional 837,117 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 1.7%

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $182.39 on Tuesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $174.18 and a twelve month high of $248.00. 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 firm has a market cap of $89.35 billion, a PE ratio of 21.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.76. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $183.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $190.91.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 29th were paid a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 29th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 43.17%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 21,079 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.22, for a total transaction of $3,841,015.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 87,681 shares in the company, valued at $15,977,231.82. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently issued reports on MMC. Barclays lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Mizuho started coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $212.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $199.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $200.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Bank of America restated an “underperform” rating and issued a $181.00 target price (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 issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $216.88.

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.