Rakuten Investment Management Inc. Purchases 7,149 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Rakuten Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 9.1% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 85,952 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,149 shares during the period. Rakuten Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $14,648,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRSH. Asset Dedication LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. EFG International AG acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter worth $31,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the second quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the second quarter valued at $37,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In related news, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,215 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $243,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 2,705 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $541,000. This represents a 30.99% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, CEO Dean Klisura sold 4,194 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $838,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 20,935 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,187,000. This trade represents a 16.69% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 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 Performance

NYSE MRSH opened at $210.62 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $183.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The firm has a market cap of $100.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.53. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $156.60 and a one year high of $210.95.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.96 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for 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% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 1st. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 47.37%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on MRSH shares. UBS Group increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $216.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Mizuho upped their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, October 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $191.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Evercore cut their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $234.00 to $224.00 in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $205.84.

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.