ING Groep NV Reduces Stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

ING Groep NV decreased its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 10.4% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 22,197 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 2,589 shares during the quarter. ING Groep NV’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $4,715,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in shares of 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 worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter worth $31,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Albion Financial Group UT bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.2 %

MMC opened at $230.05 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $196.17 and a 1-year high of $235.50. The company has a market capitalization of $112.98 billion, a PE ratio of 28.09, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $218.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $222.25.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 32.60%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.61 EPS for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th were issued a $0.815 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.42%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 39.80%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MMC has been the topic of several research reports. Evercore ISI reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $242.00 price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $242.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and set a $250.00 price target (up from $240.00) on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $214.00 to $210.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $230.44.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

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.