355,913 Shares in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Acquired by Madison Asset Management LLC

Madison Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 355,913 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $61,733,000.

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

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $181.82 on Tuesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $156.60 and a 52-week high of $213.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The company has a market capitalization of $87.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.73, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.61.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.99 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 23rd. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is presently 45.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 16,656 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 in the company, 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $203.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $181.00 to $174.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $200.81.

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.