Marsh McLennan reports financial results for Q4 and year ended 31 December 2021
Full-Year Revenue Growth of 15%; Underlying Revenue Growth of 10%
Full-Year GAAP Operating Income Rises 41%; Adjusted Operating Income Increases 18%
Full-Year GAAP EPS Increases 56% to $6.13; Adjusted EPS Increases 24% to $6.17
Fourth Quarter GAAP EPS of $1.57; Adjusted EPS Increases 14% to $1.36
Dan Glaser, President and CEO, said, “In our 150th year, we produced one of the finest results in our Company's history. We generated underlying revenue growth of 10% and adjusted EPS growth of 24%, both the highest in over two decades. We also grew our adjusted operating income by 18% and expanded adjusted margins for the 14th consecutive year. I am proud of our colleagues' hard work, dedication and unwavering focus in achieving these results. With this outstanding year, we enter 2022 well positioned for continued growth."
Consolidated Results
Consolidated revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $5.1 billion, an increase of 16% compared with the fourth quarter of 2020, or 10% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $986 million compared with $571 million in the prior year period. Adjusted operating income, which excludes noteworthy items as presented in the attached supplemental schedules, was $905 million, compared with $855 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to the Company was $803 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, compared with $0.73 in the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted earnings per share was $1.36, compared with $1.19 for the prior year period.
For the year 2021, revenue was $19.8 billion, an increase of 15% compared with 2020, or 10% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $4.3 billion, and adjusted operating income rose 18% to $4.3 billion. Net income attributable to the Company was $3.1 billion. Earnings per share increased 56% to $6.13. Adjusted earnings per share increased 24% to $6.17 compared with $4.97 in 2020.
Risk & Insurance Services
Risk & Insurance Services revenue was $3.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 20%, or 9% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $667 million, compared with $463 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted operating income increased 6% to $557 million. For the year 2021, revenue was $12.1 billion, an increase of 17%, or 10% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $3.1 billion, compared to $2.3 billion in 2020. Adjusted operating income rose 17% to $3.0 billion.
Marsh's revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $2.9 billion, an increase of 22%, or 9% on an underlying basis. In U.S./Canada, underlying revenue rose 11%. International operations underlying revenue increased 7% compared to the prior year period, reflecting underlying growth of 14% in Latin America, 10% in Asia Pacific and 5% in EMEA. For the year 2021, Marsh’s revenue growth was 19%, or 11% on an underlying basis.
Guy Carpenter's fourth quarter revenue was $170 million, an increase of 4%, or 5% on an underlying basis. For the year 2021, Guy Carpenter’s revenue grew 10% compared to a year ago, or 9% on an underlying basis.
Consulting
Consulting revenue was $2.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 10%, or 11% on an underlying basis. Operating income increased 120% to $395 million, compared with $179 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted operating income was $410 million, an increase of 6% compared with $387 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. For the year 2021, revenue was $7.8 billion, an increase of 12%, or 10% on an underlying basis. Operating income was $1.5 billion, compared with $1.0 billion in 2020. Adjusted operating income increased 19% to $1.5 billion.
Mercer’s revenue was $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 5%, or 6% on an underlying basis. Wealth, with revenue of $648 million, increased 4% on an underlying basis. Health, with revenue of $457 million, increased 4% on an underlying basis. Career revenue of $272 million increased 15% on an underlying basis. For the year 2021, Mercer’s revenue increased 7%, or 5% on an underlying basis.
Oliver Wyman’s revenue was $722 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 22% on an underlying basis. For the year 2021, Oliver Wyman’s revenue was $2.5 billion, an increase of 21% on an underlying basis.
Other Items
For the year 2021, Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) completed 11 transactions with approximately $170 million of combined revenue, including the acquisition of PayneWest, one of the largest independent agencies in the U.S.
Marsh announced in December that it increased its stake in Marsh India Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. from 49% to 92%.
The Company repurchased 2.6 million shares of stock for $425 million in the fourth quarter. For the year 2021, the Company repurchased 7.9 million shares for $1.2 billion.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company raised $750 million of senior notes and repaid $500 million of senior notes due in January 2022.