It's been a good week for Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest annual results, and the shares gained 2.7% to US$188. Marsh & McLennan Companies reported in line with analyst predictions, delivering revenues of US$27b and statutory earnings per share of US$8.43, suggesting the business is executing well and in line with its plan. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

Following the latest results, Marsh & McLennan Companies' 16 analysts are now forecasting revenues of US$28.3b in 2026. This would be a modest 4.9% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to increase 9.2% to US$9.37. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$28.3b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$9.35 in 2026. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

It will come as no surprise then, to learn that the consensus price target is largely unchanged at US$208. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Marsh & McLennan Companies at US$240 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$181. With such a narrow range of valuations, the analysts apparently share similar views on what they think the business is worth.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Marsh & McLennan Companies' revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2026 expected to display 4.9% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 8.2% over the past five years. Juxtapose this against the other companies in the industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenues (in aggregate) 4.3% annually. So it's pretty clear that, while Marsh & McLennan Companies' revenue growth is expected to slow, it's expected to grow roughly in line with the industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. They also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, with the company predicted to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for Marsh & McLennan Companies going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You should always think about risks though.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.