AON (NYSE:AON) Hits New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $411.85 and last traded at $411.94, with a volume of 52326 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $409.12.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on AON. Barclays lifted their target price on AON from $394.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on AON from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on AON from $411.00 to $414.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on AON from $410.00 to $445.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded AON from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $407.00 to $420.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $386.21.

AON Trading Down 0.1 %

The business’s fifty day moving average price is $374.76 and its 200 day moving average price is $365.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.30 billion, a PE ratio of 31.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.93.

AON (NYSE:AON) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $4.42 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.25 by $0.17. AON had a net margin of 16.91% and a return on equity of 70.84%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.89 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Aon plc will post 17.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AON Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd were issued a $0.675 dividend. This represents a $2.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. AON’s payout ratio is currently 21.33%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AON

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in AON during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of AON by 2,025.0% in the fourth quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 85 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of AON in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AON by 1,162.5% during the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 101 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Personal Financial Services purchased a new stake in AON during the 3rd quarter worth $37,000. 86.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About AON

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It focuses on risk capital including claim management, reinsurance, risk analysis, management, retention, and transfer; and human capital involving analytics, health and benefits, investments, pensions and retirement, talent and rewards, and workplace wellbeing.