Aon plc (NYSE:AON) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $409.75.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on AON shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of AON in a research report on Monday, December 29th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on AON from $419.00 to $416.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on AON from $410.00 to $416.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Mizuho set a $398.00 price objective on shares of AON in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of AON from $433.00 to $406.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th.

Insider Activity

In other news, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 5,040 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $325.79, for a total transaction of $1,641,981.60. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 20,254 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,598,550.66. This represents a 19.93% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Lester B. Knight acquired 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $319.24 per share, for a total transaction of $1,276,960.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 143,000 shares in the company, valued at $45,651,320. This represents a 2.88% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AON. Matrix Trust Co increased its position in AON by 7.1% during the third quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 422 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $150,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the period. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC grew its position in AON by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 1,935 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $683,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of AON by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 1,582 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $558,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. City National Bank of Florida MSD raised its position in shares of AON by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. City National Bank of Florida MSD now owns 867 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $306,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Busey Bank lifted its stake in shares of AON by 0.3% in the third quarter. Busey Bank now owns 9,565 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,411,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. 86.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

AON Price Performance

Shares of AON opened at $315.49 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.03 and a quick ratio of 2.03. The company has a market capitalization of $67.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.83. The business’s 50-day moving average is $341.22 and its 200-day moving average is $350.19. AON has a fifty-two week low of $304.59 and a fifty-two week high of $412.97.

AON (NYSE:AON) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $4.85 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.75 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $4.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.38 billion. AON had a net margin of 21.51% and a return on equity of 45.23%. The firm’s revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.42 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that AON will post 17.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AON Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.745 per share. This represents a $2.98 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.51%.

AON Company Profile

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.