Commerce Bank Makes New $7.85 Million Investment in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Commerce Bank bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 47,126 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $7,854,000.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Solstein Capital LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Asset Dedication LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. SHP Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.71, for a total transaction of $2,693,441.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 116,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,889,506.81. The trade was a 12.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 16,632 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. This trade represents a 29.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345 in the last three months. 0.38% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

MRSH stock opened at $192.17 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $91.71 billion, a PE ratio of 23.49, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $179.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $156.60 and a one year high of $212.65.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 14.24% and a return on equity of 32.67%. The firm had revenue of $7.28 billion during the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd were issued a $0.99 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 23rd. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is 48.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on MRSH. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective 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. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $197.00 to $201.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $216.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $203.50.

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.