Sanctuary Advisors LLC Buys Shares of 75,698 Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH

Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 75,698 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $12,617,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.8% in the second quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,337 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,823,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. MMA Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. MMA Asset Management LLC now owns 4,083 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $757,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.3% during the first quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,452 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $252,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 12.6% in the first quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 668 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC boosted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. GRIMES & Co WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC now owns 8,883 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,648,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:MRSH opened at $192.17 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $179.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $156.60 and a 12-month high of $212.65. The firm has a market cap of $91.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued 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. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The company had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 23rd were issued a $0.99 dividend. This is a boost from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 23rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MRSH. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Citigroup lowered shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $203.50.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, Director Lloyd M. Yates sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.65, for a total transaction of $2,107,800.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 12,001 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,107,975.65. This represents a 50.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total value of $141,174.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 16,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,242,448. This trade represents a 4.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 36,469 shares of company stock valued at $6,291,345. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies 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.