Markel Group Inc. Acquires 6,750 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Markel Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 761,750 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,750 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises about 1.1% of Markel Group Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Markel Group Inc. owned approximately 0.16% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $141,320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. City Holding Co. bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,655 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.30, for a total transaction of $3,052,861.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,411,456.30. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.6%

MRSH opened at $164.14 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $158.16 and a 12-month high of $235.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market cap of $79.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.52, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.65. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $168.09.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.21 by $0.08. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.26% and a return on equity of 31.87%. The company had revenue of $7.30 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th were given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on MRSH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $226.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $200.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $178.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $195.00 to $190.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 6th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $205.00.

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.