Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) Shares Bought by American Century Companies Inc.

American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU - Free Report) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 628,980 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 20,471 shares during the quarter. American Century Companies Inc. owned about 0.18% of Prudential Financial worth $74,553,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Grove Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 65.9% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 219 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Centricity Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. CGC Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in Prudential Financial by 82.1% in the 4th quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 275 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 376.3% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 281 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. 56.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Prudential Financial

In related news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 6,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.98, for a total transaction of $635,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,072 shares in the company, valued at $2,869,090.56. The trade was a 18.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Insurance Co Of Ame Prudential purchased 87,047 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $28.72 per share, with a total value of $2,499,989.84. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 87,047 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,499,989.84. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.31% of the company's stock.

Prudential Financial Trading Down 3.9 %

NYSE PRU traded down $4.48 on Friday, hitting $109.94. 2,326,712 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,538,417. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 52-week low of $104.45 and a 52-week high of $130.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.72, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.28. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $113.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $118.95.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.36 by ($0.40). Prudential Financial had a net margin of 4.01% and a return on equity of 15.86%. Research analysts forecast that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 14.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.91%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase from Prudential Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Prudential Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 72.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $149.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $129.00 to $125.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $136.00 to $128.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 28th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $101.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Prudential Financial from $113.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $126.15.

Prudential Financial Profile

Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments.