Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio Sells 3,182 Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lowered its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) by 1.6% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 199,403 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 3,182 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $34,586,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MRSH. Solstein Capital LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. SHP Wealth Management bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total value of $2,693,441.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,889,506.81. This trade represents a 12.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MRSH opened at $180.66 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $156.60 and a 1 year high of $213.80. The company has a market capitalization of $86.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.09, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The business’s revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.41 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.99 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 23rd. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MRSH. Weiss Ratings cut Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, April 17th. Barclays cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $209.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $201.69.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York City that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Founded in 1905, the company has grown into a diversified group of businesses focused on insurance brokerage and risk management, reinsurance, human capital and investment consulting, and management consulting. Its long history and scale position it as a prominent adviser to corporations, governments and other institutions seeking to manage risk and optimize human and financial capital.

The firm operates through several well-known subsidiaries and business units that specialize in distinct services.