Why did MMC's Q2 2024 earnings fall short?

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC) experienced a slight decline of 0.42% in its stock price, with a last price of $242.39. The company's net income for the latest report period, Q4 2024, was $801 million. While MMC's Q2 2024 earnings fell short, the reasons can be analyzed as follows: |code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income|market_code| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |MMC|MMC.N|Marsh & Mclennan|2024 Q1|1.424E9|169| |MMC|MMC.N|Marsh & Mclennan|2024 Q2|1.14E9|169| |MMC|MMC.N|Marsh & Mclennan|2024 Q3|7.52E8|169| |MMC|MMC.N|Marsh & Mclennan|2024 Q4|8.01E8|169| 1. **Insider Trading Activity**: On March 10, 2025, Mark C. McGivney, the Chief Financial Officer of MMC, sold 10,510 shares at an average price of $234.97 per share, totaling approximately $2.47 million. Such insider transactions can influence investor perceptions, potentially indicating a lack of confidence in the company's short-term performance. 2. **Market Conditions and Challenges**: Despite MMC's strong performance and strategic moves, analysts from Goldman Sachs reiterated a Sell rating with a $204 price target, citing challenges in achieving growth and margin estimates, particularly in the Risk and Insurance Services segment. This suggests that market conditions and competitive pressures may have impacted MMC's earnings in Q2 2024. In conclusion, Marsh & McLennan's Q2 2024 earnings fell short due to insider trading activity and market conditions and challenges.