Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC), Inc. (NYSE:C) reported first-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings per share of $1.38, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.1%. Also, the bottom line improved 28% year over year.
In the quarter under review, Marsh & McLennan’s consolidated revenues were $4 billion, up 4% on an underlying basis. Moreover, the top line outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.3%.
Total operating expenses of $3,092 million in the first quarter were up 12.3% year over year.
Quarterly Segment Results
Risk and Insurance Services
Revenues at the Risk and Insurance Services segment were $2.3 billion, up 3% on an underlying basis. Adjusted operating income also grew 30% to $723 million from the prior-year quarter.
Marsh, a unit within this segment, generated revenues of $1.7 billion, up 2% on an underlying basis. In U.S./Canada, underlying revenues rose 3%. Underlying revenue growth remained flat from international operations, reflecting underlying growth of 4% in Asia Pacific and 6% in Latin America. This was partially offset by a decline of 2% in EMEA.
Another unit under this segment — Guy Carpenter — displayed revenue growth of 7% on an underlying basis to $637 million.
Consulting
The Consulting segment's revenues increased 5% on an underlying basis to $1.7 billion. Additionally, adjusted operating income increased 8% year over year to $248 million.
A unit within this segment — Mercer — reported revenues of $1.2 billion, up 5% on an underlying basis. Wealth with revenues of $565 million, grew 3% on an underlying basis.
Another unit, Oliver Wyman Group, posted revenues of $497 million, up 6% 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 $1,168 million, down 3% from 2017 end.
As of Mar 31, 2018, Marsh & McLennan’s total assets were $21,379 million, up 4.6% from year-end 2017.
Total equity was $8,021 million, up 7.8% from year-end 2017.
Capital Deployment
The company repurchased 3 million shares of its common stock for $250 million in the first quarter.
Zacks Rank
Marsh & McLennan carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Companies in the Finance Sector
Among other players in the Finance sector, which have reported first-quarter earnings so far, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Corporation (NYSE:C) , Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>
U.S. Bancorp (USB): Free Stock Analysis Report
Citigroup Inc. (C): Free Stock Analysis Report
Bank of America Corporation (BAC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Original post
Zacks Investment Research