The Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) Scheduled to Post Quarterly Earnings on Thursday

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG - Get Free Report) will be releasing its earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, October 24th. Analysts expect The Hartford Financial Services Group to post earnings of $2.46 per share for the quarter. Individual interested in listening to the company's earnings conference call can do so using this link.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The insurance provider reported $2.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.24 by $0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 21.20% and a net margin of 11.44%. The business had revenue of $6.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.88 EPS. The Hartford Financial Services Group's revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect The Hartford Financial Services Group to post $10 EPS for the current fiscal year and $11 EPS for the next fiscal year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Up 2.3 %

NYSE HIG traded up $2.71 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $122.33. 2,373,163 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,602,880. The company's 50-day moving average is $114.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.06. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a one year low of $68.92 and a one year high of $123.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $36.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.93.

The Hartford Financial Services Group announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, July 25th that allows the company to buyback $3.30 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the insurance provider to repurchase up to 10.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $117.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $122.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 17th. Bank of America upped their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $121.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Argus raised The Hartford Financial Services Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, The Hartford Financial Services Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $120.59.

About The Hartford Financial Services Group

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.