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Arthur J. Gallagher expands with Via Financial Group buy

Published 10/25/2024, 09:04 AM
AJG
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ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has expanded its international footprint with the acquisition of Via Financial Group Pty Ltd, a financial advisory firm based in Sydney, New South Wales. The terms of the transaction, announced today, have not been made public.

Via Financial Group specializes in financial planning, wealth management, and life risk advisory services, operating out of multiple offices across Australia. The firm's team, including Matthew Read, Daniel Burden, Peter Kirby (NYSE:KEX), Ben Davis, Robert Wilson, and Sam Haydon, will be integrated into Gallagher's Australian employee benefits and HR consulting operations, led by Graham Campbell.

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., the Chairman and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., remarked on the acquisition, stating that Via Financial Group's advisory services will complement Gallagher's existing benefits consulting operations in Australia. He expressed enthusiasm about welcoming the Via Financial Group's professionals to the Gallagher family.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NYSE:AJG, is a global firm offering insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting services. With its headquarters in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the company operates in roughly 130 countries through a combination of owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

This expansion is part of Gallagher's ongoing strategy to enhance its global service offerings. The integration of Via Financial Group's team is expected to bolster Gallagher's capabilities in the Australian market, providing a broader range of financial advisory services to its clientele.

The information reported here is based on a press release statement from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

In other recent news, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has had a series of noteworthy developments. The company reported a year-over-year revenue growth of 13% in the third quarter of 2024, slightly below TD Cowen's projection of 6.3%. Despite this, TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating on the company's shares. Arthur J. Gallagher also announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of sixty cents per share, a move that continues the firm's practice of returning value to its shareholders.

The company has also expanded its reach by acquiring RIBV Holdings, LLC, operating as Risk International. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Arthur J. Gallagher's service offerings and facilitate growth within the risk management sector. Analysts from Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital, and CFRA have maintained positive ratings on the company, with Barclays initiating coverage with an Equalweight rating.

Arthur J. Gallagher's EPS forecast for 2024 has been slightly reduced by 1%, while the estimates for 2025 and 2026 remain unchanged. Goldman Sachs anticipates that the company will sustain its momentum in acquiring new business, which should enable stronger organic growth compared to its peers. RBC Capital and CFRA have raised their price targets for Arthur J. Gallagher's shares, attributing the positive revisions to the company's strong Q2 performance and favorable insurance pricing conditions. These are the recent developments for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

InvestingPro Insights

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s recent acquisition of Via Financial Group aligns well with the company's strong financial performance and growth trajectory. According to InvestingPro data, Gallagher's revenue growth stands at an impressive 17.58% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, with quarterly revenue growth at 13.37%. This robust growth is reflected in the company's market capitalization of $63.0 billion.

InvestingPro Tips highlight Gallagher's consistent dividend performance, having raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years and maintained payments for 40 years. This speaks to the company's financial stability and commitment to shareholder returns, which could be attractive to investors looking at its expansion into the Australian market.

The company's profitability is also noteworthy, with an operating income margin of 24.08% and EBITDA growth of 22.1% over the last twelve months. These figures suggest that Gallagher is well-positioned to integrate new acquisitions like Via Financial Group effectively.

It's worth noting that Gallagher is trading at a high P/E ratio of 54.7, which may indicate investor confidence in the company's growth strategy, including acquisitions such as this one. However, potential investors should consider that 14 analysts have revised their earnings downwards for the upcoming period, as noted in another InvestingPro Tip.

For those interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights that could provide valuable context for Gallagher's acquisition strategy and financial outlook.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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