Morgan Stanley Lowers Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) Price Target to $190.00

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) had its target price reduced by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from $195.00 to $190.00 in a research note issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “equal weight” rating on the financial services provider’s stock. Morgan Stanley’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 10.12% from the stock’s previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Evercore reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $237.00 to $236.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $208.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $199.00 to $203.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Raymond James Financial upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $225.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $211.38.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE MRSH opened at $172.54 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $83.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $174.75. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a twelve month low of $164.89 and a twelve month high of $239.34.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.97 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.87 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MRSH. State Street Corp bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,057,682,000. Capital International Investors purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,482,557,000. Capital World Investors purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,140,284,000. Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,967,927,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,710,101,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.