Stock of the Day

June 12, 2020

AON (AON)

$292.28
+$5.48 (+1.9%)
Market Cap: $60.84B

About AON

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It focuses on risk capital including claim management, reinsurance, risk analysis, management, retention, and transfer; and human capital involving analytics, health and benefits, investments, pensions and retirement, talent and rewards, and workplace wellbeing. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

AON Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Aon plc:

  • Aon plc shares are currently trading at $286.78, which is significantly below the consensus price target of $391.00 set by analysts, suggesting substantial upside potential for investors who believe the market has overreacted to recent negative news.
  • The company demonstrated strong financial performance in its most recent quarter, reporting earnings per share of $3.81, which exceeded the consensus estimate of $3.80, while maintaining a high return on equity of 42.13% and a net margin of 22.27%.
  • Recent institutional activity indicates growing confidence, with major investors like Ninety One UK Ltd increasing their stake by 419.8% and the State of Alaska Department of Revenue boosting its position by 740.2% in the third quarter, signaling strong institutional support.
  • Aon plc offers a stable income stream with a dividend yield of 1.19% and a low payout ratio of 18.08%, indicating that the company retains the majority of its earnings for reinvestment while still providing consistent returns to shareholders.
  • The stock exhibits lower volatility than the broader market with a beta of 0.70, making it a potentially defensive holding that may offer better risk-adjusted returns during periods of market uncertainty.

AON Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Aon plc for these reasons:

  • Several prominent financial institutions have recently lowered their price targets, including Cantor Fitzgerald cutting its target from $433.00 to $400.00 and Keefe Bruyette reducing its target from $417.00 to $342.00, reflecting a more cautious outlook on the company's near-term growth prospects.
  • Wolfe Research recently downgraded Aon plc from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating, indicating significant concerns about the company's valuation or future performance relative to its peers in the insurance brokerage sector.
  • The stock has experienced a notable decline from its 52-week high of $382.34 to its current price of $286.78, representing a drop of over 25%, which may indicate underlying structural issues or a loss of investor confidence in the company's strategic direction.
  • Insider selling activity has been observed, with General Counsel Darren Zeidel selling a total of 10,390 shares in multiple transactions between February and July 2026, which some investors may interpret as a lack of confidence in the stock's short-term appreciation.
  • The company's revenue growth has slowed to 2.2% year-over-year in the most recent quarter, down from 6.4% in the previous quarter, suggesting potential headwinds in demand for its risk and human capital services.

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