The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $122.28.

HIG has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Bank of America upped their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $121.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th.

Insider Activity at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total transaction of $803,479.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares in the company, valued at $3,021,972.80. This trade represents a 21.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of The Hartford Financial Services Group

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of HIG. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.1% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 111,134 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $13,063,000 after acquiring an additional 7,350 shares during the period. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd boosted its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd now owns 137,506 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $16,172,000 after purchasing an additional 4,449 shares during the period. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $633,000. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI acquired a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $19,005,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.5% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 314,849 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $37,029,000 after buying an additional 10,566 shares during the last quarter. 93.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Price Performance

HIG stock opened at $114.19 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $113.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $113.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.10 billion, a PE ratio of 11.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a one year low of $85.34 and a one year high of $124.90.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The insurance provider reported $2.94 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 11.62% and a return on equity of 20.35%. On average, analysts forecast that The Hartford Financial Services Group will post 10.06 earnings per share for the current year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Company Profile

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.