Capital Investment Advisors LLC Acquires 267,954 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 106.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 520,818 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 267,954 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises approximately 1.1% of Capital Investment Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Capital Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $88,919,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,891 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,006,000 after buying an additional 351 shares in the last quarter. MBL Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 113.8% in the 3rd quarter. MBL Wealth LLC now owns 3,482 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $594,000 after acquiring an additional 1,853 shares during the last quarter. Ledyard National Bank increased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.4% in the third quarter. Ledyard National Bank now owns 9,520 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,625,000 after buying an additional 310 shares during the period. Culbertson A N & Co. Inc. grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 159.2% in the third quarter. Culbertson A N & Co. Inc. now owns 7,005 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,196,000 after purchasing an additional 4,302 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter worth $245,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares in the company, valued at $3,159,913.68. The trade was a 29.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $141,174.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 16,376 shares in the company, valued at $3,242,448. This trade represents a 4.17% 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. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.8%

NYSE MRSH opened at $197.71 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $156.60 and a 52 week high of $200.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $94.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.59. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $181.60.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.96 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 33.32% and a net margin of 14.20%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.47 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a $0.99 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 1st. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is presently 47.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $179.00 to $178.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Evercore lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $234.00 to $224.00 in a report on Thursday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $215.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $204.42.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

Marsh & McLennan Companies is a global professional services firm that provides advice and solutions in risk, strategy and people. The company serves businesses, governments and institutions through a portfolio of specialized businesses focused on insurance brokerage, reinsurance, consulting and talent management.

Its principal businesses include Marsh, an insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm; Guy Carpenter, a provider of reinsurance brokerage and related risk-management services; Mercer, which offers consulting in investment, retirement, health and workforce strategy; and Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm serving clients across industries and regions.

Founded in 1905, Marsh & McLennan serves clients in countries and markets around the world.