Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2017 operating earnings per share of 79 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%. Earnings improved 14% year over year.
Marsh & McLennan’s consolidated revenues were $3.34 million, up 3% year over year on an underlying basis. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.3%.
Total operating expenses of $2.74 billion increased 7.1% year over year.
The effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2017 was 26.2% compared with 26.8% in the prior-year period.
Segment Results
Risk and Insurance Services
Revenues at the Risk and Insurance Services segment were $1.8 billion, up 3% year over year on an underlying basis. Adjusted operating income also grew 12% to $337 million from the prior-year quarter.
A unit within this segment, Marsh, reported revenues of $1.5 million, up 3% year over year on an underlying basis. Underlying revenues grew 2% year over year in international operations on 9% growth in Latin America, 7% in the Asia Pacific, partly offset by 2% decline in the underlying revenues for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
Another unit under this segment, Guy Carpenter, displayed revenue growth of 4% year over year on an underlying basis to $270 million.
Consulting
The Consulting segment's revenues increased 2% year over year on an underlying basis to $1.6 billion. Additionally, adjusted operating income increased 7% year over year to $330 million.
A unit within this segment – Mercer – reported revenues of $1.1 billion, remained flat year over year on an underlying basis.
Another unit, Oliver Wyman Group, reported revenues of $438 million, up 7% year over year on an underlying basis.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Financial Update
Marsh & McLennan exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.08 billion, up 5.1% from 2016 end.
As of Sep 30, 2017, Marsh & McLennan’s total assets were $19.7 billion, up 8.2% from year-end 2016.
Total equity was $7.1 billion, up 13.7% from year-end 2016.
Capital Deployment
The company repurchased 2.6 million shares of its common stock for $200 million in the third quarter.
Zacks Rank
Marsh & McLennan presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among other players from the insurance industry that have reported their third-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line at CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO - Free Report) , The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s (TRV - Free Report) beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued Thursday, October 26, 2017, should no longer be relied upon.)
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2017 operating earnings per share of 79 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%. Earnings improved 14% year over year.
Marsh & McLennan’s consolidated revenues were $3.34 million, up 3% year over year on an underlying basis. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.3%.
Total operating expenses of $2.74 billion increased 7.1% year over year.
The effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2017 was 26.2% compared with 26.8% in the prior-year period.
Segment Results
Risk and Insurance Services
Revenues at the Risk and Insurance Services segment were $1.8 billion, up 3% year over year on an underlying basis. Adjusted operating income also grew 12% to $337 million from the prior-year quarter.
A unit within this segment, Marsh, reported revenues of $1.5 million, up 3% year over year on an underlying basis. Underlying revenues grew 2% year over year in international operations on 9% growth in Latin America, 7% in the Asia Pacific, partly offset by 2% decline in the underlying revenues for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
Another unit under this segment, Guy Carpenter, displayed revenue growth of 4% year over year on an underlying basis to $270 million.
Consulting
The Consulting segment's revenues increased 2% year over year on an underlying basis to $1.6 billion. Additionally, adjusted operating income increased 7% year over year to $330 million.
A unit within this segment – Mercer – reported revenues of $1.1 billion, remained flat year over year on an underlying basis.
Another unit, Oliver Wyman Group, reported revenues of $438 million, up 7% year over year on an underlying basis.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Financial Update
Marsh & McLennan exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.08 billion, up 5.1% from 2016 end.
As of Sep 30, 2017, Marsh & McLennan’s total assets were $19.7 billion, up 8.2% from year-end 2016.
Total equity was $7.1 billion, up 13.7% from year-end 2016.
Capital Deployment
The company repurchased 2.6 million shares of its common stock for $200 million in the third quarter.
Zacks Rank
Marsh & McLennan presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among other players from the insurance industry that have reported their third-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line at CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO - Free Report) , The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s (TRV - Free Report) beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued Thursday, October 26, 2017, should no longer be relied upon.)
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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