Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. Trims Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. reduced its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,692 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 62 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $2,271,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 1,442 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $306,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 26.9% in the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 30,008 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,374,000 after purchasing an additional 6,360 shares during the last quarter. TIAA Trust National Association grew its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. TIAA Trust National Association now owns 10,970 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,330,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC increased its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 544.4% during the 4th quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC now owns 3,628 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $771,000 after purchasing an additional 3,065 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Congress Wealth Management LLC DE raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 145.0% in the fourth quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 8,688 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,846,000 after buying an additional 5,142 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $236.78 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $116.29 billion, a PE ratio of 28.91, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $228.03 and a 200 day moving average of $223.84. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $196.17 and a 12 month high of $241.84.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share 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%. On average, research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be issued a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.38%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 3rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 39.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, VP Stacy Mills sold 1,317 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.97, for a total transaction of $309,455.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,923 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $686,817.31. The trade was a 31.06 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Nicholas Mark Studer sold 49,390 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.16, for a total transaction of $11,367,602.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 28,329 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,520,202.64. This trade represents a 63.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 57,828 shares of company stock worth $13,350,279. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MMC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Tuesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $281.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Raymond James reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $250.00 target price (up previously from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $233.41.

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.