MSN - Marsh McLennan Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2023 Results

Full-Year Revenue Growth of 10%; Underlying Revenue Growth of 9%
Full-Year GAAP Operating Income Increases 23%; Adjusted Operating Income Increases 17%
Full-Year GAAP EPS of $7.53; Adjusted EPS Increases 17% to $7.99
Fourth Quarter GAAP EPS of $1.52; Adjusted EPS Increases 14% to $1.68

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

John Doyle, President and CEO, said: "Our fourth quarter results highlight a strong finish to another outstanding year for Marsh McLennan. For the full year, we generated 9% underlying revenue growth, 17% adjusted EPS growth and 130 basis points of margin expansion, marking our 16th consecutive year of reported margin expansion. In addition, we continued to make substantial organic and inorganic investments in our business with significant acquisition activity in 2023."

"Our results and investments have us well positioned for 2024 as we remain focused on supporting our clients and helping them thrive."

Consolidated Results

Consolidated revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $5.6 billion, an increase of 11% compared with the fourth quarter of 2022, or an increase of 7% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $1.1 billion. Adjusted operating income, which excludes noteworthy items as presented in the attached supplemental schedules, rose 16% to $1.2 billion. Net income attributable to the Company was $756 million. Earnings per share increased 63% to $1.52. Adjusted earnings per share increased 14% to $1.68.

For the full year 2023, revenue was $22.7 billion, an increase of 10% compared with 2022, or 9% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $5.3 billion, and adjusted operating income rose 17% to $5.6 billion. Net income attributable to the Company was $3.8 billion. Earnings per share increased 25% to $7.53. Adjusted earnings per share increased 17% to $7.99.

Risk & Insurance Services

Risk & Insurance Services revenue was $3.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 11%, or 8% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $753 million, compared with $472 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted operating income increased 15% to $791 million. For the year 2023, revenue was $14.1 billion, an increase of 11% on both a GAAP and an underlying basis. Operating income was $3.9 billion. Adjusted operating income rose 17% to $4.1 billion.

Marsh's revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $2.9 billion, an increase of 7%, or 6% on an underlying basis. In U.S./Canada, underlying revenue rose 5%. International operations produced underlying revenue growth of 7%, reflecting 11% in Latin America, 10% in Asia Pacific, and 5% in EMEA. For the year 2023, Marsh’s revenue growth was 8% on both a GAAP and underlying basis.

Guy Carpenter's fourth quarter revenue was $252 million, an increase of 48%, or 9% on an underlying basis. For the year 2023, Guy Carpenter’s revenue grew 12% compared to a year ago, or 10% on an underlying basis.

Consulting

Consulting revenue was $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 10%, or 7% on an underlying basis. Operating income increased 32% to $443 million, compared with $336 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted operating income was $480 million, an increase of 18% compared with $407 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. For the year 2023, revenue was $8.7 billion, an increase of 7% on both a GAAP and underlying basis. Operating income was $1.7 billion. Adjusted operating income increased 13% to $1.7 billion.

Mercer’s revenue was $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 9%, or 5% on an underlying basis. Wealth revenue of $654 million increased 4% on an underlying basis. Health revenue of $502 million increased 9% on an underlying basis. Career revenue of $288 million increased 1% on an underlying basis. For the year 2023, Mercer’s revenue increased 5%, or 7% on an underlying basis.

Oliver Wyman’s revenue was $856 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 9% on an underlying basis. For the year 2023, Oliver Wyman’s revenue was $3.1 billion, an increase of 8% on an underlying basis.

Other Items

The Company repurchased 1.3 million shares of stock for $250 million in the fourth quarter. For the year 2023, the Company repurchased 6.4 million shares for $1.15 billion.

On October 16, 2023, the Company repaid $250 million of senior notes that matured.

In November, Marsh completed the acquisition of Honan Insurance Group, a leading insurance broker in Australia and New Zealand.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2023 results will be held today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. The live audio webcast may be accessed at marshmclennan.com . A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the event. The webcast is listen-only. Those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session may register here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call.

About Marsh McLennan

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company’s more than 85,000 colleagues advise clients in over 130 countries. With annual revenue of $23 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses. Marsh provides data-driven risk advisory services and insurance solutions to commercial and consumer clients. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and technology-driven solutions that help organizations redefine the world of work, reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock health and well being for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com , or follow us on LinkedIn and X .

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which express management's current views concerning future events or results, use words like "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project" and similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like "could," "may," "might," "should," "will" and "would".

Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect our future results include, among other things:

• the impact of geopolitical or macroeconomic conditions on us, our clients and the countries and industries in which we operate, including from multiple major wars, escalating conflict throughout the Middle East and rising tension in the South China Sea, slower GDP growth or recession, lower interest rates, capital markets volatility and inflation;
• the impact from lawsuits or investigations arising from errors and omissions, breaches of fiduciary duty or other claims against us in our capacity as a broker or investment advisor, including claims related to our investment business’ ability to execute timely trades;
• the increasing prevalence of ransomware, supply chain and other forms of cyber attacks, and their potential to disrupt our operations, or the operations of our third party vendors, and result in the disclosure of confidential client or company information;
• the financial and operational impact of complying with laws and regulations, including domestic and international sanctions regimes, anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Anti Bribery Act and cybersecurity, data privacy and artificial intelligence regulations;
• our ability to attract, retain and develop industry leading talent;
• our ability to compete effectively and adapt to competitive pressures in each of our businesses, including from disintermediation as well as technological change, digital disruption and other types of innovation such as artificial intelligence;
• our ability to manage potential conflicts of interest, including where our services to a client conflict, or are perceived to conflict, with the interests of another client or our own interests;
• the impact of changes in tax laws, guidance and interpretations, such as the implementation of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development international tax framework, or the increasing number of disagreements with and challenges by tax authorities in the current global tax environment; and
• the regulatory, contractual and reputational risks that arise based on insurance placement activities and insurer revenue streams.

The factors identified above are not exhaustive. Marsh McLennan and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks emerge frequently. Accordingly, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it is made.

Further information concerning Marsh McLennan and its businesses, including information about factors that could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section and the "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Supplemental Information - Revenue Analysis
Three Months Ended December 31
(Millions) (Unaudited)

The Company advises clients in over 130 countries. As a result, foreign exchange rate movements may impact period over period comparisons of revenue. Similarly, certain other items such as acquisitions and dispositions, including transfers among businesses, may impact period over period comparisons of revenue. Non-GAAP underlying revenue measures the change in revenue from one period to the next by isolating these impacts.

Revenue Details

The following table provides more detailed revenue information for certain of the components presented above:

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Supplemental Information - Revenue Analysis
Twelve Months Ended December 31
(Millions) (Unaudited)

The Company advises clients in over 130 countries. As a result, foreign exchange rate movements may impact period over period comparisons of revenue. Similarly, certain other items such as acquisitions and dispositions, including transfers among businesses, may impact period over period comparisons of revenue. Non-GAAP underlying revenue measures the change in revenue from one period to the next by isolating these impacts.

Revenue Details

The following table provides more detailed revenue information for certain of the components presented above:

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
Three Months Ended December 31
(Millions) (Unaudited)

Overview

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (referred to in this release as in accordance with "GAAP" or "reported" results). The Company also refers to and presents certain additional non-GAAP financial measures, within the meaning of Regulation G and item 10(e) Regulation S-K in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These measures are: non-GAAP revenue, adjusted operating income (loss) , adjusted operating margin, adjusted income, net of tax and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) . The Company has included reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP in the following tables.

The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that enables investors to better compare the Company’s performance across periods. Management also uses these measures internally to assess the operating performance of its businesses and to decide how to allocate resources. However, investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial information that the Company reports in accordance with GAAP. The Company's non-GAAP measures include adjustments that reflect how management views its businesses, and may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP measures presented by other companies.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) and Adjusted Operating Margin

Adjusted operating income (loss) is calculated by excluding the impact of certain noteworthy items from the Company's GAAP operating income (loss). The following tables identify these noteworthy items and reconcile adjusted operating income (loss ) to GAAP operating income (loss), on a consolidated and reportable segment basis, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The following tables also present adjusted operating margin. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, adjusted operating margin is calculated by dividing the sum of adjusted operating income and identified intangible asset amortization by consolidated or segment adjusted revenue. The Company's adjusted revenue used in the determination of adjusted operating margin is calculated by excluding the impact of certain noteworthy items from the Company's GAAP revenue.