Value
5.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| P/E | 5.6 |
| P/S | 8.1 |
| EV/EBITDA | 3.4 |
| Fwd P/E | 7.5 |
| PEG | 4.7 |
| Analyst target | 4.0 |
- ▸Forward P/E: 16.4x
- ▸PEG: 1.82
MRSH · Why this verdict
Why Marsh (MRSH) is rated HOLD
Updated
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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VerdictHOLD
Overall score5.4/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis
Engine thesis — one sentence
A high-quality insurance brokerage franchise with excellent cash conversion and an unbroken four-quarter earnings beat streak is navigating a confirmed near-term price downtrend with heavy revenue concentration in a single business segment—warranting a patient, watch-and-wait stance while the technical setup stabilizes.
Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.
Thesis pillars
| Pillar | Expectation | Trend |
|---|---|---|
Approximately 64% of revenue flows from a single business segment, and within that segment roughly 54% derives from a single sub-unit—two compounding layers of concentration that create meaningful vulnerability if market conditions for that specific business line deteriorate. Bear case | Revenue from the primary concentrated segment declines below 55% of total revenue as other business lines grow in proportion. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterHigh segment concentration in a stable, recurring-fee advisory business may reflect deliberate focus on the highest-margin activities rather than structural fragility, especially if long-term client retention rates are high and the segment is structurally growing. | ||
Return on equity of 28% and free cash flow exceeding reported net income by approximately 27% indicate a capital-efficient business generating real cash well above accounting earnings—a sign of fundamental franchise strength that tends to sustain premium valuations over full cycles. Quality breakdown | Free cash flow conversion stays above 110% of net income and operating margin remains at or above current levels over the next 12 months. | →Stable |
| CounterA leverage penalty from a debt-to-equity ratio above 1.0 and a dividend payout flagged as potentially unsafe limit the capital available for reinvestment, which could constrain the compounding capacity that the high return on equity implies. | ||
The stock trades below its long-term moving average on a negatively sloping trajectory of approximately negative 3.2% per 30 days—a confirmed downtrend—indicating that near-term selling pressure dominates and discourages new entry until the technical picture stabilizes. Momentum breakdown | Price recovers above the 200-day moving average and the 30-day moving average slope turns positive for 2 consecutive months, confirming a sustained reversal. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterAn improving MACD and RSI near 57 suggest early-stage stabilization; the downtrend may be approaching exhaustion if the improving short-term momentum signals are absorbed into a sustained recovery. | ||
Four consecutive quarters of beating analyst estimates—with beat magnitudes ranging from roughly 2% to 7%—shows a management team that consistently delivers against expectations, a track record that typically sustains analyst support and limits downside earnings surprises. Earnings | The earnings beat streak extends to six or more consecutive quarters. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterAverage positive surprises of approximately 4% are narrow, leaving little cushion if the operating environment softens; a single in-line or miss quarter in the current bearish technical setup could disproportionately reset analyst sentiment. | ||
Approximately 64% of revenue flows from a single business segment, and within that segment roughly 54% derives from a single sub-unit—two compounding layers of concentration that create meaningful vulnerability if market conditions for that specific business line deteriorate.
↓DeterioratingBear case
- Expectation
- Revenue from the primary concentrated segment declines below 55% of total revenue as other business lines grow in proportion.
CounterHigh segment concentration in a stable, recurring-fee advisory business may reflect deliberate focus on the highest-margin activities rather than structural fragility, especially if long-term client retention rates are high and the segment is structurally growing.
Return on equity of 28% and free cash flow exceeding reported net income by approximately 27% indicate a capital-efficient business generating real cash well above accounting earnings—a sign of fundamental franchise strength that tends to sustain premium valuations over full cycles.
→StableQuality breakdown
- Expectation
- Free cash flow conversion stays above 110% of net income and operating margin remains at or above current levels over the next 12 months.
CounterA leverage penalty from a debt-to-equity ratio above 1.0 and a dividend payout flagged as potentially unsafe limit the capital available for reinvestment, which could constrain the compounding capacity that the high return on equity implies.
The stock trades below its long-term moving average on a negatively sloping trajectory of approximately negative 3.2% per 30 days—a confirmed downtrend—indicating that near-term selling pressure dominates and discourages new entry until the technical picture stabilizes.
↓DeterioratingMomentum breakdown
- Expectation
- Price recovers above the 200-day moving average and the 30-day moving average slope turns positive for 2 consecutive months, confirming a sustained reversal.
CounterAn improving MACD and RSI near 57 suggest early-stage stabilization; the downtrend may be approaching exhaustion if the improving short-term momentum signals are absorbed into a sustained recovery.
Four consecutive quarters of beating analyst estimates—with beat magnitudes ranging from roughly 2% to 7%—shows a management team that consistently delivers against expectations, a track record that typically sustains analyst support and limits downside earnings surprises.
↓DeterioratingEarnings
- Expectation
- The earnings beat streak extends to six or more consecutive quarters.
CounterAverage positive surprises of approximately 4% are narrow, leaving little cushion if the operating environment softens; a single in-line or miss quarter in the current bearish technical setup could disproportionately reset analyst sentiment.
Per-dimension breakdown
Quality
7.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| ROE | 8.6 |
| ROA | 4.8 |
| Gross margin | 4.8 |
| Op margin | 10.0 |
| Net margin | 7.1 |
| Current ratio | 4.4 |
| FCF quality | 9.0 |
| Moat | 6.1 |
| Piotroski F | 7.8 |
- ▸Excellent ROE: 26%
- ▸Excellent cash conversion: 120% FCF/NI
- ▸Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9
Growth
3.8/10data confidence 67%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Rev growth | 4.0 |
| EPS growth | 3.5 |
Momentum
4.9/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| RSI | 5.5 |
| MACD | 0.0 |
| OBV | 5.7 |
| MA position | 6.0 |
| Volume | 7.1 |
- ▸Above 200-day MA
Sentiment
5.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Analyst rating | 5.0 |
| Price target | 6.5 |
| erm sentiment | 5.0 |
Insider
4.8/10data confidence 50%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| materiality | 5.0 |
| holder change | 4.7 |
- ▸Insider selling (low materiality) — $4,845,644 (0.005% of mkt cap)
Peer rank
4.7/10data confidence 80%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| value rank | 6.2 |
| quality rank | 6.5 |
| growth rank | 2.5 |
Technical
7.3/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| bollinger | 7.2 |
| support resistance | 6.8 |
| 52w position | 7.9 |
Risk (lower is worse)
6.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| short interest | 9.2 |
| days to cover | 7.8 |
| volatility | 7.5 |
| put call | 0.0 |
| implied vol | 6.5 |
| max pain risk | 3.0 |
| beta | 9.5 |
| debt equity | 4.1 |
- ▸Elevated put/call: 2.07
- ▸Above max pain $140
- ▸Concentration risks: 2 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)
Catalyst
6.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| erm | 5.0 |
| earnings history | 10.0 |
| earnings timing | 5.0 |
| surprise avg | 4.5 |
| dividend safety | 8.0 |
- ▸Perfect beat streak: 4Q
- ▸Dividend aristocrat: 2.1% yield
How the verdict was assembled
Engine trigger
Maintain position. Not compelling to add more.
Engine technical detail
verdict_path:
L4:PATH_F_HOLDPassed (6)
- MOMENTUM:4.9>=4.5
- INSIDER:OK
- NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
- EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:43d clear
- SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
- MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
- ASYMMETRY:-0.1=NEGATIVE
Warning (2)
- MOMENTUM:4.9<5.5 (soft — BUY_NOW allowed but watch)
- 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
-0.15
Upside
-0.8%
Downside
5.0%
Sizing output
AVOID
Setup— — No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed
EdgeNo clear edge — No clear edge identified
SuitabilityModerate — Balanced profile
Investment implication
None of the engine's positive-conviction paths (C-quality, D-momentum) triggered — the F-path HOLD reflects balanced signals. Strongest-cleared gate: MOMENTUM:4.9>=4.5. Top dim: Technical at 7.3; weakest: Growth at 3.8. No conviction either direction.
The strongest dimensions are Technical at 7.3, Quality at 7.0, and Catalyst at 6.5; the weakest are Growth at 3.8, Peer rank at 4.7, and Insider at 4.8. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 2 warnings, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.15 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.
What would invalidate the thesis
Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.
- P1Quality Franchise Exceptional Cash Conversion
Trip ifFree cash flow as a percentage of net income falls below 100% for 2 consecutive quarters.
- P2Confirmed Near Term Price Downtrend
Trip ifPrice closes above $179.87 and sustains above that level for 2 consecutive weeks, confirming the downtrend has reversed.
- P3Revenue Concentrated In Single Segment
Trip ifPrimary revenue segment falls below 55% of total company revenue.
- P4Reliable Earnings Beat Track Record
Trip ifEPS surprise falls below 0% for 2 consecutive quarters.