Plato Investment Management Ltd Purchases Shares of 17,248 Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Plato Investment Management Ltd bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor bought 17,248 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,858,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MRSH. Solstein Capital LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Asset Dedication LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. SHP Wealth Management acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.0%

MRSH stock opened at $187.75 on Monday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $156.60 and a twelve month high of $213.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $89.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a fifty day moving average of $177.66.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The business had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. The firm’s revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 48.41%.

Insider Activity

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total value of $1,348,929.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 16,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. This represents a 29.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Lloyd M. Yates sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.65, for a total transaction of $2,107,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 12,001 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,107,975.65. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 36,469 shares of company stock worth $6,291,345 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MRSH has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Citigroup lowered Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $201.94.

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.