MRSH 10-K Analysis: Cash Flow Grew 10x Faster Than Profits
Marsh generated $5 billion in free cash flow in FY2025 — 25% more than the prior year — yet earnings per share grew just 3.1%. The 10-K reveals that the company's $7.75B McGriff acquisition compressed R&I segment margins by 160 basis points, with acquired revenue arriving at 14.1% incremental margin — half the existing 28.4% base. But beneath the GAAP noise, Marsh's cash conversion ratio of 1.27x is the highest among its financial services peers, and the company returned 89% of net income to shareholders while running a $400M efficiency program that the filing itself warns may not deliver.