Avestar Capital LLC Boosts Stock Position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Avestar Capital LLC lifted its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 7.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 2,799 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the quarter. Avestar Capital LLC’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $595,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 85.7% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 130 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Albion Financial Group UT purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of MMC opened at $231.06 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $195.99 and a 52-week high of $235.50. The stock has a market cap of $113.48 billion, a PE ratio of 28.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $216.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $221.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. Research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 30th. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.80%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MMC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays upped their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $236.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $217.00 to $228.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $220.00 price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and set a $250.00 target price (up from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $242.00 price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Monday, November 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $230.44.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.