Aon plc (NYSE:AON) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nineteen analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fourteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $408.9412.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $408.00 price target on shares of AON in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley set a $400.00 price objective on shares of AON in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $436.00 target price on shares of AON in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of AON in a research report on Monday. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $385.00 price objective on shares of AON in a research note on Monday, February 2nd.

Insider Buying and Selling at AON

In other AON news, Director Lester B. Knight bought 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were bought at an average price of $319.24 per share, with a total value of $1,276,960.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 143,000 shares in the company, valued at $45,651,320. The trade was a 2.88% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 5,040 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.79, for a total value of $1,641,981.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel owned 20,254 shares in the company, valued at $6,598,550.66. This represents a 19.93% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Purpose Unlimited Inc. purchased a new stake in AON in the 4th quarter worth approximately $227,000. Stance Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of AON by 11.1% during the 4th quarter. Stance Capital LLC now owns 4,015 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,417,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of AON by 9.7% in the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 10,448 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,687,000 after acquiring an additional 921 shares during the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of AON by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 76,111 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,986,000 after acquiring an additional 3,667 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its position in AON by 9.7% during the fourth quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 190,679 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $67,700,000 after purchasing an additional 16,890 shares during the last quarter. 86.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AON Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AON opened at $325.30 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $69.70 billion, a PE ratio of 19.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 2.03 and a current ratio of 2.03. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $331.59 and a 200-day moving average of $344.98. AON has a one year low of $304.59 and a one year high of $402.49.

AON (NYSE:AON) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $4.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.75 by $0.10. AON had a return on equity of 45.23% and a net margin of 21.51%.The business had revenue of $4.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.42 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AON will post 17.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AON Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were given a $0.745 dividend. This represents a $2.98 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 2nd. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.51%.

AON Company Profile

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.