Typically, insurance companies are not affected by increases in interest rates, and this is one of the strongest companies in the industry. Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE: MMC), a professional services company, provides advice and solutions to clients in the areas of risk, strategy and people worldwide.

Its Risk and Insurance Services segment offers risk management services, such as risk advice, risk transfer and risk control and mitigation solutions, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking, catastrophe and financial modeling, and related advisory services, and insurance program management services. This segment serves businesses, public entities, insurance companies, associations, professional services organizations and private clients.

The Consulting segment provides health, wealth, and career consulting services and products. It also offers specialized management, as well as economic and brand consulting services.

Shareholders receive a 1.43% dividend. The Wells Fargo target price of $183 is in line with the $183.08 consensus target. Marsh & McLennan stock closed on Monday at $147.31.

Merck

This remains a leading health care stock for conservative investors. Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) operates as a health care company worldwide. It operates through the following two segments.

The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines.

The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services, as well as digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products.

Merck serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals and government agencies; managed health care providers, such as health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and other institutions; and physicians and physician distributors, veterinarians and animal producers. The company has collaborations with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eisai, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Gilead Sciences.

Merck stock investors receive a 3.08% dividend. The $105 Goldman Sachs target price is well above the $97.35 consensus target, and the stock is on the firm’s Conviction List of top picks. Monday’s closing print was $85.00.

Moody’s

While not one of Warren Buffett’s more well-known stocks, the company should have limited issues from rising inflation. Moody’s Corp. (NYSE: MCO) operates as an integrated risk assessment firm worldwide.