LSV Asset Management Sells 274,640 Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

LSV Asset Management lessened its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG - Free Report) by 6.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,131,683 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 274,640 shares during the quarter. The Hartford Financial Services Group comprises about 1.0% of LSV Asset Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. LSV Asset Management owned about 1.43% of The Hartford Financial Services Group worth $452,006,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Horizon Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 4th quarter worth $277,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 437.9% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 871,318 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $95,322,000 after acquiring an additional 709,324 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,701,675 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $514,363,000 after purchasing an additional 202,487 shares during the period. Suncoast Equity Management bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $311,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 62.1% during the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 28,622 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $3,131,000 after purchasing an additional 10,964 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.42% of the company's stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Performance

Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock traded up $0.11 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $117.78. 389,270 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,581,470. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $94.47 and a 1-year high of $125.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $116.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $115.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The insurance provider reported $2.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 19.55% and a net margin of 11.72%. As a group, equities analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 11.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.77%. The Hartford Financial Services Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 20.10%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HIG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $118.00 to $117.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Barclays increased their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. StockNews.com lowered The Hartford Financial Services Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $126.00 to $125.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and issued a $125.00 target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $124.13.

Insider Activity

In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, CEO Christopher Swift sold 98,061 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.39, for a total value of $11,805,563.79. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 211,082 shares of the company's stock, valued at $25,412,161.98. This represents a 31.72 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Robert W. Paiano sold 13,138 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.20, for a total transaction of $1,539,773.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,678 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,712,661.60. This trade represents a 29.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 112,343 shares of company stock valued at $13,488,337 over the last ninety days. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.