Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) Stock Position Lowered by Coho Partners Ltd.

Coho Partners Ltd. decreased its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 15.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 385,670 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 71,121 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises approximately 3.8% of Coho Partners Ltd.’s holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Coho Partners Ltd.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $81,920,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AMF Tjanstepension AB grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 16.8% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 132,205 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,507,000 after acquiring an additional 19,024 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 98,579 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $21,992,000 after buying an additional 5,857 shares during the period. Walter Public Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Walter Public Investments Inc. now owns 112,494 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $25,096,000 after buying an additional 4,807 shares during the period. nVerses Capital LLC boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 16.7% during the 3rd quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 4,900 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,093,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the period. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 30,182 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,733,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

NYSE:MMC opened at $231.06 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $195.99 and a one year high of $235.50. The company has a market cap of $113.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $216.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $221.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. Equities analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 39.80%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $255.00 to $259.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $220.00 price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Barclays boosted their price target 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. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $217.00 to $228.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $230.44.

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.