Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at Redburn Atlantic

Redburn Atlantic began coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $281.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Raymond James reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $250.00 price target (up previously from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $233.41.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MMC opened at $236.78 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $116.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.95. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $228.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $223.84. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a 52-week low of $196.17 and a 52-week high of $241.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.815 per share. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 3rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,317 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total transaction of $309,455.49. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,923 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $686,817.31. The trade was a 31.06 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Nicholas Mark Studer sold 49,390 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.16, for a total value of $11,367,602.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 28,329 shares in the company, valued at $6,520,202.64. The trade was a 63.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 57,828 shares of company stock valued at $13,350,279. 0.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.