Markel Group Inc. Boosts Stock Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Markel Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 1.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 735,500 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 13,000 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies makes up approximately 1.4% of Markel Group Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Markel Group Inc. owned approximately 0.15% of Marsh & McLennan Companies worth $156,228,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Donaldson Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 245,895 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $52,231,000 after purchasing an additional 5,148 shares during the period. Morton Community Bank increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Morton Community Bank now owns 18,463 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,922,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 30.2% in the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 556 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $118,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 119.5% in the fourth quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 4,635 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $985,000 after acquiring an additional 2,523 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 7.1% in the fourth quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 64,564 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $13,714,000 after acquiring an additional 4,277 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of MMC stock opened at $235.87 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $115.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $196.17 and a 1-year high of $241.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $223.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $223.42.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were given a $0.815 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.38%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 39.80%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $236.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $242.00 price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Monday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $230.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.