We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Insurance Brokerage Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC) stands against the other insurance brokerage stocks.
The Insurance Brokerage Market: An Overview
The insurance brokerage market serves as an important link between insurance companies and clients, helping individuals and businesses find the right insurance coverage. Brokers act as intermediaries, offering a wide range of services that include risk assessment, policy selection, and claims assistance. As regulations evolve and new risks emerge, the role of brokers becomes even more crucial in ensuring that clients are adequately protected.
This market has been expanding rapidly. According to Grand View Research, the global insurance brokerage market was valued at $287.40 billion in 2023. Looking forward, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% during 2024-2030 to reach $524.80 billion by the end of the forecast period.
The North American insurance brokerage market was the largest in the world in 2023, accounting for 30.5% of the total revenue. This growth is largely driven by regulatory changes and increasing compliance requirements in the region. As businesses strive to avoid the risks associated with non-compliance, the demand for brokerage services continues to rise.
A key trend driving market growth is the integration of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, which are transforming the industry. These tools help brokers streamline processes, improve risk assessments, and enhance customer service.
First Rate Drop in Seven Years?
On October 24, Reuters reported that global commercial insurance rates fell by 1% in the third quarter of 2024. This marks the first quarterly decline in seven years, as noted by the Global Insurance Market Index from Marsh. The index tracks renewal rate changes across four main categories of commercial insurance: property, casualty, cyber, and financial & professional lines. Marsh indicated that the decrease in composite rates was mainly due to increased competition among insurers in the global property market.
Regionally, the average composite rates experienced a significant reduction, with a 6% drop in the Pacific region, 5% in the UK, 4% in Asia, 3% in Canada, and 2% in India, the Middle East, and Africa. In contrast, rates remained flat in Europe and increased by 3% in both the US and the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.
Property insurance rates globally decreased by 2%. Financial and professional lines experienced a notable drop of 7%, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of declines in this category. Cyber insurance rates also fell by 6%, consistent with the previous 2 quarters. However, casualty insurance was the only major product line to see an increase, rising by 6% globally after several quarters of growth. Pat Donnelly, President of Marsh Specialty and Global Placement, described these rate reductions as a positive development for clients.
For insurance brokers, this presents both challenges and opportunities. A decrease in rates can indicate a shift in market conditions, which could lead to increased competition among brokers as they adjust their strategies to attract clients. Lower rates may also make insurance more affordable for more customers, encouraging them to purchase coverage or expand their existing policies.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 7 best insurance brokerage stocks to invest in now, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find insurance brokerage companies. We also reviewed our own rankings and consulted various online resources. From an initial pool of more than 20 insurance brokerage stocks, we focused on the top 7 stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 912 elite hedge funds. The 7 best insurance brokerage stocks to invest in now are ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them as of Q2 2024.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A modern insurance policy with a pen resting on top, symbolic of a client signing it.
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC) is a leading global professional services firm that specializes in insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting. The company operates through four main divisions: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman, providing comprehensive solutions to clients in 130 countries.
Recently, on September 30, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC) announced its agreement to acquire McGriff Insurance Services for $7.75 billion. McGriff Insurance Services is a leading provider of insurance broking and risk management services. This acquisition will enhance the company’s capabilities in commercial property and casualty insurance, employee benefits, and management liability.
The company is on track for a record year in mergers and acquisitions, having committed nearly $10 billion to acquisitions so far in 2024. These acquisitions include McGriff Insurance Services, Vanguard’s U.S. OCIO business, Cardano, Horton, and FBBI. These strategic moves highlight Marsh & McLennan’s (NYSE:MMC) strategy to invest in faster-growing areas of its business and expand its market presence to meet the evolving needs of its clients.
In the third quarter of 2024, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC) reported a 6% increase in GAAP revenue and a 5% rise in underlying revenue. The company’s earnings per share also showed positive growth, with GAAP EPS rising 3% to $1.51 and adjusted EPS increasing 4% to $1.63. These results reflect the firm’s strong performance across its business segments and its effective execution of its growth strategy.
Over the past five years, the company has seen its revenue grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.26%, with net income increasing at a CAGR of 21.78%. With a solid track record of growth, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC) stands out as an attractive investment opportunity in the insurance brokerage sector.
MMC is one of the best insurance brokerage stocks to buy now. According to Insider Monkey’s Q2 2024 database of over 900 hedge funds, 51 hedge funds held stakes in Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:MMC).
Overall MMC ranks 2nd on our list of the best insurance brokerage stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of MMC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MMC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
