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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 6%, 5% underlying: Consolidated revenue was $7.4 billion, up 6% from the second quarter of 2025. Currency and acquisition or other items each contributed 1 point of the reported change. Source
  • Operating income up 4%, adjusted 5%: GAAP operating income was $1.9 billion, up 4%. Adjusted operating income rose 5% to $2.2 billion, excluding noteworthy items and identified intangible amortization expense. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 9% to $2.96: Diluted EPS was $2.63, against $2.45 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS rose 9% to $2.96 from $2.72. Source
  • Risk and Insurance revenue up 4%: Revenue was $4.8 billion, up 4% (3% underlying). Operating income rose 2% to $1.5 billion; adjusted operating income rose 3% to $1.7 billion. Source
  • Consulting revenue up 10%: Consulting revenue was $2.6 billion, up 10% (8% underlying). Operating income rose 10% to $502 million; adjusted operating income rose 11% to $533 million. Source
  • Compensation and benefits rose: Compensation and benefits were $4,141 million against $3,895 million. Other operating expenses were $1,364 million against $1,250 million. Source
  • Repurchased $750 million of stock: About 4.5 million shares were repurchased for $750 million in the quarter. Six-month repurchases totaled 8.7 million shares for $1.5 billion. Source

“I am pleased with our solid results in the quarter and our execution in a dynamic environment.”

John Doyle, President and CEO

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The Board raised the quarterly dividend by 10% to $0.990 per share on July 8, 2026. Source

Consolidated results and growth

  • Revenue rose 6%, 5% underlying: Consolidated revenue was $7.4 billion, up 6% from the second quarter of 2025. Currency and acquisition or other items each contributed 1 point of the reported change. Source
  • Operating income up 4%, adjusted 5%: GAAP operating income was $1.9 billion, up 4%. Adjusted operating income rose 5% to $2.2 billion, excluding noteworthy items and identified intangible amortization expense. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 9% to $2.96: Diluted EPS was $2.63, against $2.45 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS rose 9% to $2.96 from $2.72. Source
  • Six-month operating income fell 5%: Six-month operating income was $3.7 billion, down 5%. Six-month diluted EPS was $4.99 against $5.23 a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month adjusted operating income up 7%: Six-month revenue was $15.0 billion, up 7% reported and 4% underlying. Six-month adjusted EPS rose 8% to $6.25. Source

Risk and Insurance Services

  • Risk and Insurance revenue up 4%: Revenue was $4.8 billion, up 4% (3% underlying). Operating income rose 2% to $1.5 billion; adjusted operating income rose 3% to $1.7 billion. Source
  • Marsh Risk revenue up 4% underlying: Marsh Risk revenue was $4.1 billion, up 6% reported. U.S./Canada underlying growth was 4%. Source
  • International growth led by Latin America: International underlying growth was 5%: EMEA 5%, Asia Pacific 5%, Latin America 8%. Reported International revenue was $1.7 billion, up 7%. Source
  • Guy Carpenter revenue down 2%: Guy Carpenter revenue was $664 million, down 2% on both GAAP and underlying bases. Six-month underlying revenue was flat. Source

“Our performance in the first half underscores strong demand for Marsh's expertise and capabilities across risk, people, strategy, and investments.”

John Doyle, President and CEO

Consulting segment

  • Consulting revenue up 10%: Consulting revenue was $2.6 billion, up 10% (8% underlying). Operating income rose 10% to $502 million; adjusted operating income rose 11% to $533 million. Source
  • Consulting adjusted margin 20.5%: Consulting adjusted operating margin was 20.5%, against 20.2% a year earlier. Six-month underlying Consulting revenue growth was 7%. Source
  • Mercer revenue up 7%, Wealth leads: Mercer revenue was $1.6 billion, up 7% (5% underlying). Underlying growth was 8% in Wealth, 3% in Health and 2% in Career. Source
  • Marsh Management Consulting up 13%: Marsh Management Consulting revenue was $1.0 billion, up 15% reported and 13% underlying. Six-month underlying growth was 10%. Source

Costs, margins and noteworthy items

  • Compensation and benefits rose: Compensation and benefits were $4,141 million against $3,895 million. Other operating expenses were $1,364 million against $1,250 million. Source
  • Noteworthy items rose to $130 million: Noteworthy items totaled $130 million, against $88 million a year earlier. McGriff integration and retention costs were $47 million, against $45 million. Source
  • Intangible amortization and margin: Identified intangible amortization was $137 million against $140 million. Reported operating margin was 25.6%, against 26.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Income tax expense slightly lower: Income tax expense was $411 million, against $415 million. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests rose to $25 million from $20 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased $750 million of stock: About 4.5 million shares were repurchased for $750 million in the quarter. Six-month repurchases totaled 8.7 million shares for $1.5 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower in six months: Six-month net cash from operations was $835 million, against $1,049 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables absorbed more cash: Net receivables used $1,365 million in the six months, against $921 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends paid rose in six months: Six-month dividends paid were $878 million, against $810 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt proceeds and repayments: Six-month debt proceeds were $595 million and repayments were $610 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell to 478 million: Shares outstanding were 478 million at June 30, against 492 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy, Thrive and acquisitions

  • Thrive program scope: Thrive is a three-year program covering brand strategy, client value, growth and efficiency. Its costs appear within noteworthy items. Source
  • Acquisition cash spending rose: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $129 million in the six months, against $62 million a year earlier. Source
  • Career growth mostly from acquisitions: Career revenue rose 13% reported but 2% underlying, with acquisitions and other items contributing 11 points. Source

Litigation, people and leadership

  • Greensill charge in first quarter: The first-quarter release recorded a $425 million charge for Greensill litigation within operating income.
  • Greensill item absent from quarter: The six-month reconciliation carries the $425 million Greensill item; the three-month reconciliation for the second quarter has no such line. Source
  • Workforce and scale described: The company describes itself as having more than 95,000 colleagues and annual revenue of $27 billion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 July 2026

  • Third-quarter dividend payment date: The third-quarter dividend is payable on August 14, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment (loss) income Source$(5) million in the second quarter of 2026, against $7 million a year earlier

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Legal costs of $8 million relate to restrictive covenant litigation against a competitor, recorded in Risk & Insurance Services. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management states that the three-year Thrive program will generate savings from process and automation efficiencies and optimization of the global operating model. 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.