Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Has $11.28 Million Stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. cut its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 5.1% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 54,749 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 2,969 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $11,277,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of MMC. Kessler Investment Group LLC increased its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 57.4% in the 1st quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLC now owns 2,426 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $500,000 after buying an additional 885 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Trust & Investment Management Co raised its position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 1.7% during the first quarter. Harbour Trust & Investment Management Co now owns 60,346 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $12,430,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter worth $484,000. Family Investment Center Inc. acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 1st quarter valued at $216,000. Finally, Donaldson Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4,090.4% during the first quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 218,781 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $45,065,000 after buying an additional 213,560 shares during the last quarter. 87.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Martine Ferland sold 9,128 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.63, for a total transaction of $1,840,478.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,979 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,012,065.77. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,169 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $202.00, for a total transaction of $438,138.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 14,199 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,868,198. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Martine Ferland sold 9,128 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.63, for a total value of $1,840,478.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,979 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,012,065.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 36,751 shares of company stock worth $7,448,163. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Performance

MMC stock traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $199.27. 1,039,890 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,926,955. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $171.47 and a 52 week high of $209.20. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $202.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $197.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.18 billion, a PE ratio of 25.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.90.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $2.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.80 by $0.09. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.84% and a return on equity of 34.14%. The company had revenue of $6.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.38 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.53 earnings per share. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 4th will be given a $0.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 3rd. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on MMC. UBS Group lifted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $236.00 to $238.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 22nd. TD Cowen upped their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $189.00 to $201.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $213.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $198.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, April 8th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $185.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $207.69.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Profile

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc, a professional services company, provides advice and solutions to clients in the areas of risk, strategy, and people worldwide. It operates through Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment offers risk management services, such as risk advice, risk transfer, and risk control and mitigation solutions, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking, strategic advisory services, and analytics solutions, and insurance program management services.