EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC Takes Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 8,809 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,528,000.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MRSH. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.7% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,316,579 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $575,261,000 after purchasing an additional 148,884 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 20.5% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 35,578 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,171,000 after purchasing an additional 6,052 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,572,947 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $272,828,000 after buying an additional 46,720 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 57.2% in the first quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 246,855 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $42,817,000 after buying an additional 89,792 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Family Manage LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the first quarter valued at $266,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 16,632 shares in the company, valued at $3,159,913.68. This represents a 29.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at $18,889,506.81. This represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 35,756 shares of company stock valued at $6,150,171. 0.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 3.1%

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $191.50 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $172.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $156.60 and a 12 month high of $213.80.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The business’s revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be paid a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. This is a boost from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 23rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MRSH has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $181.00 to $174.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Barclays dropped their target price 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. One investment 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 given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $201.94.

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.