Paul Beswick Sells 2,237 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) Stock

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,237 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total value of $550,302.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 13,522 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,326,412. This trade represents a 14.20 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $229.84 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $232.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $224.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $113.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.85. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $196.17 and a one year high of $248.00.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be given a $0.815 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 3rd. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.42%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 39.80%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Transce3nd LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MMC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. They set a “buy” rating and a $281.00 price target for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $250.00 price objective (up from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Thursday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $234.12.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.