Hodges Capital Management Inc. Has $7.86 Million Holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. $THG

Hodges Capital Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG) by 6.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 43,008 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 2,856 shares during the quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group were worth $7,861,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Community Bank N.A. acquired a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC increased its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 300.0% during the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 200 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.61% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Francisco Aristeguieta sold 1,000 shares of The Hanover Insurance Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $195.37, for a total value of $195,370.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,053 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $791,834.61. This trade represents a 19.79% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO John C. Roche sold 8,358 shares of The Hanover Insurance Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $193.74, for a total transaction of $1,619,278.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 141,011 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,319,471.14. The trade was a 5.60% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 29,508 shares of company stock worth $5,704,651 in the last quarter. Insiders own 2.80% of the company’s stock.

The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Performance

Shares of THG stock opened at $197.59 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $6.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.94 and a beta of 0.30. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $160.70 and a 52 week high of $199.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $185.21 and a 200-day moving average of $179.91.

The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 29th. The insurance provider reported $5.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.14 by $1.11. The company had revenue of $1.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion. The Hanover Insurance Group had a net margin of 10.77% and a return on equity of 21.55%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.87 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 18.36 earnings per share for the current year.

The Hanover Insurance Group announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, May 13th that allows the company to repurchase $700.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the insurance provider to reacquire up to 10.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

The Hanover Insurance Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 26th. Investors of record on Friday, June 12th will be given a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 12th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The Hanover Insurance Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.12%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $205.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $208.00 to $211.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Morgan Stanley set a $195.00 price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Citizens Jmp raised their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, The Hanover Insurance Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $207.00.

The Hanover Insurance Group Company Profile

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc (NYSE: THG) is a property and casualty insurance company that provides a range of commercial and personal insurance products. Through its subsidiary companies, Hanover offers coverage for businesses of all sizes, including workers’ compensation, general liability, commercial auto, and professional liability. On the personal lines side, the company underwrites homeowners, personal auto, flood, and umbrella policies designed to meet the needs of individuals and families.

In addition to its core commercial and personal insurance offerings, Hanover maintains a specialty arm that focuses on niche markets through tailored product solutions.