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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 8%, 4% underlying: Revenue was $7.6 billion, up from $7.1 billion. Currency added 3 points and acquisitions and other items added 1 point, leaving 4% underlying growth. Source
  • Operating income fell 12%: Operating income was $1.8 billion, down from $2.0 billion. The company included a Greensill litigation charge in operating income and excluded it from adjusted operating income. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 8%: Adjusted operating income was $2.4 billion, up from $2.2 billion. It excludes noteworthy items and identified intangible amortization expense. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 8% to $3.29: Adjusted EPS was $3.29 against $3.06. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.36 against $2.79, and net income attributable to the Company was $1,146 million against $1,381 million. Source
  • Consulting grew 5% underlying: Consulting revenue was $2.6 billion, up 11% reported. Operating income rose 15% to $525 million, and adjusted operating income rose 13% to $552 million. Source
  • Wealth and Health grew, Career declined: Underlying growth was 5% in Wealth and 6% in Health. Career declined 2% on an underlying basis. Source
  • Adjusted margin flat at 31.8%: Adjusted operating margin was 31.8% in both quarters. Risk & Insurance Services was 38.3% against 38.2%, and Consulting was 21.6% against 21.2%. Source
  • Buybacks of $750 million: The company repurchased about 4.2 million shares for $750 million. Purchases of treasury shares in the cash flow statement were $755 million against $300 million. Source

“We had a solid start to the year, and I am pleased with our execution in a dynamic and challenging environment.”

John Doyle, President and CEO

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 8%, 4% underlying: Revenue was $7.6 billion, up from $7.1 billion. Currency added 3 points and acquisitions and other items added 1 point, leaving 4% underlying growth. Source
  • Operating income fell 12%: Operating income was $1.8 billion, down from $2.0 billion. The company included a Greensill litigation charge in operating income and excluded it from adjusted operating income. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 8%: Adjusted operating income was $2.4 billion, up from $2.2 billion. It excludes noteworthy items and identified intangible amortization expense. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 8% to $3.29: Adjusted EPS was $3.29 against $3.06. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.36 against $2.79, and net income attributable to the Company was $1,146 million against $1,381 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Risk & Insurance Services grew 3% underlying: Risk & Insurance Services revenue was $5.1 billion, up 6% reported. Its operating income fell 19% to $1.3 billion, while adjusted operating income rose 7% to $1.9 billion. Source
  • Marsh Risk International grew 5% underlying: Marsh Risk revenue was $3.7 billion, up 8% reported and 4% underlying. U.S./Canada grew 3% underlying. Within International, EMEA grew 6%, Asia Pacific 5% and Latin America 2%. Source
  • Guy Carpenter grew 2% underlying: Guy Carpenter revenue was $1.2 billion, up 3% reported and 2% underlying. Source
  • Consulting grew 5% underlying: Consulting revenue was $2.6 billion, up 11% reported. Operating income rose 15% to $525 million, and adjusted operating income rose 13% to $552 million. Source
  • Marsh Management Consulting grew 6%: Marsh Management Consulting revenue was $897 million, up 10% reported and 6% underlying. Mercer revenue was $1.7 billion, up 11% reported and 5% underlying. Source

“For the quarter, we generated 8% overall revenue growth, 4% underlying revenue growth, 8% adjusted operating income growth, and 8% adjusted EPS growth.”

John Doyle, President and CEO

Mercer practice lines

  • Wealth and Health grew, Career declined: Underlying growth was 5% in Wealth and 6% in Health. Career declined 2% on an underlying basis. Source
  • Health revenue up 9% reported: Health revenue was $661 million against $608 million. Currency added 3 points, and acquisitions and other items reduced growth by 1 point. Source
  • Career revenue up 13% reported: Career revenue was $248 million against $218 million. Currency added 5 points and acquisitions and other items added 11 points, so underlying growth was negative 2%. Source

Expenses and cost lines

  • Compensation and benefits rose: Compensation and benefits were $4,130 million against $3,850 million. Total operating expenses were $5,843 million against $5,056 million. Source
  • Other operating expenses rose sharply: Other operating expenses were $1,713 million against $1,206 million. Within Risk & Insurance Services they were $1,134 million against $698 million. The release does not state the cause. Source
  • Restructuring cost $45 million: Restructuring cost was $45 million, of which $27 million was in Risk & Insurance Services, $13 million in Consulting and $5 million in corporate. Source
  • Intangible amortization roughly flat: Identified intangible amortization expense was $138 million against $139 million. Depreciation and amortization expense was $89 million against $88 million. Source

“Our results reflect Marsh's market leadership, our clients' trust in our team's expertise, and the strength of our data and insights.”

John Doyle, President and CEO

Margins and profitability

  • GAAP operating margin 23.1%: GAAP operating margin was 23.1%, against 28.4% a year earlier. Adjusted figures exclude the noteworthy items listed in the reconciliation. Source
  • Adjusted margin flat at 31.8%: Adjusted operating margin was 31.8% in both quarters. Risk & Insurance Services was 38.3% against 38.2%, and Consulting was 21.6% against 21.2%. Source
  • Adjusted income rose on fewer shares: Adjusted income, net of tax, was $1,600 million against $1,516 million. Average diluted shares were 486 million against 495 million. Source

Noteworthy items and adjustments

  • Noteworthy items totalled $521 million: Total noteworthy items were $521 million against $91 million. Identified intangible amortization of $138 million is also excluded from adjusted operating income. Source
  • Tax effect on adjustments $153 million: The income tax effect of adjustments was $153 million against $50 million. Other net benefit credits of $50 million were deducted, against $43 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks of $750 million: The company repurchased about 4.2 million shares for $750 million. Purchases of treasury shares in the cash flow statement were $755 million against $300 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow negative $688 million: Net cash used for operations was $688 million against $622 million. The change in accrued compensation and employee benefits was $2,004 million against $1,858 million. Source
  • Senior notes issued and repaid: The company issued $600 million of senior notes and repaid $600 million of notes that matured. At March 31, short-term debt was $1,702 million and long-term debt $18,900 million. Source
  • Dividends paid and payable: Dividends paid were $440 million against $405 million. Dividends payable were $436 million at March 31, 2026, against none at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Cash and equity balances lower: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,611 million against $2,687 million at December 31. Total equity was $14,806 million against $15,315 million. Source
  • Capital spending and acquisitions: Capital expenditures were $62 million against $55 million. Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $41 million against $18 million. Source

Strategy and the Thrive program

  • Thrive launched as three-year program: Thrive was launched in the third quarter of 2025 as a three-year program covering brand strategy, client value, growth and efficiency. Source
  • Thrive costs in 2025 were severance: The release states that Thrive costs in 2025 related primarily to severance and lease exits. Source
  • Thrive savings expected from efficiencies: The release says the program will produce savings from process and automation efficiencies, and from optimizing the global operating model. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$6 million (Q1 2026) against $5 million (Q1 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The company recorded estimated liability and legal expenses for the Greensill litigation as a noteworthy item within operating income. Source
  • External: Management described the business environment as dynamic and challenging. Source
  • Operational: McGriff integration and retention costs were $42 million in the quarter, against $69 million a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The release refers to Thrive as a plan launched in 2025 that is expected to generate savings. It gives no status update. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.