Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Decreases Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MMC

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership decreased its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 0.2% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,437,011 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 6,443 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies makes up approximately 1.0% of Artisan Partners Limited Partnership’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $692,661,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 363.3% during the 2nd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 139 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, TruNorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO John Q. Doyle sold 21,079 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.22, for a total transaction of $3,841,015.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 87,681 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,977,231.82. This trade represents a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Price Performance

MMC opened at $182.39 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $174.18 and a 12-month high of $248.00. The company has a market cap of $89.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $183.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $190.00.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 29th were paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 29th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is presently 43.17%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MMC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $199.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $213.00 to $200.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $191.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $242.00 to $226.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marsh & McLennan Companies has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $216.88.

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.