Ascent Group LLC Has $2.72 Million Stock Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Ascent Group LLC cut its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 21.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,661 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 3,985 shares during the period. Ascent Group LLC’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $2,720,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 9,455.4% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,520,164 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $282,021,000 after acquiring an additional 1,504,255 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 9.1% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 15,091,478 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,041,386,000 after acquiring an additional 1,260,434 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 654.7% during the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,419,104 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $285,992,000 after purchasing an additional 1,231,059 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 29.7% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,293,188 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $663,676,000 after purchasing an additional 753,828 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 93.4% in the 3rd quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 1,379,436 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $277,998,000 after purchasing an additional 666,023 shares during the period. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total transaction of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of MRSH stock opened at $174.49 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of $84.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.75. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $164.89 and a 52-week high of $248.00. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $175.70.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.52 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 31.60% and a net margin of 15.42%.The company’s revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.87 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 42.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $209.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $200.00 target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $205.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings assumed coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. They issued a “hold (c)” rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $212.06.

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.