No. of Recommendations: 8
Howdy river valley:
My two cents worth and it will be generalized as this stuff is multi-dimensionally (probably not a word but...) complex...of course insurance rates of this and that are cyclical thus changing and there is caution in the air.
The fast growers BRO and AJG have pulled back (their stock prices have fallen) with less organic growth predicted. Anything deeper than that? Not that I know of, both have made many and big acquisitions and those are under process of being integrated. Decent buys? Most likely in my view. My guess in the near term AJG - the business - will do better and that may, or may not, mean the stock does better (from around the $285 price). I bought some more BRO in the just under $92 price. I have 62,500 shares of AJG so not likely that I will buy more at any price. (By the way I stated that I had 62,500 shares of AJG on the Yahoo (I think it was Yahoo) forum in 1996 or so...and couldn't get one single soul to discuss it with me! It was worth $500-600k then.) I've continued to plug for the brokers now on the Berk forums for 30 years.
MMC, the stock, is messing around $200 which is probably a decent place to buy if you are wanting to outpace a Treasury bond with what should be little risk. Growth? My guess better than Mr. Market thinks, but not too fast.
I bought WTW again (I loaded up more a year or two ago just under $200) at around $300 and my guess is it will get back there. Decent buy? I certainly think so as things are beginning to click with them.
AON? I bought a whopping amount recently at $330-something and more at $351 or so. Very international...I like it.
We have a great insurance brokers thread over on COBF that may be worth following if you want.
Rambling. I do not think deeply about the brokers but we have detailed in-the-business people on COBF who do if you are interested in their intense analysis.
