Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC Boosts Holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC)

Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC) by 422.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 726 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 587 shares during the quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $154,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MMC. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. raised its position in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 85.7% in the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 130 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:MMC opened at $228.95 on Tuesday. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $196.17 and a 52-week high of $235.50. The business has a fifty day moving average of $216.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $221.96. The stock has a market cap of $112.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.95, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.96. 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 earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.12. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.60% and a net margin of 16.60%. On average, research analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 9.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.42%. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s payout ratio is currently 39.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $242.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Evercore ISI reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $242.00 price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Monday, November 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. 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 report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $255.00 to $259.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average 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.