Stephens Inc. AR Decreases Stock Position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU)

Stephens Inc. AR lessened its stake in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU - Free Report) by 53.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 47,332 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 55,316 shares during the quarter. Stephens Inc. AR's holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $5,610,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Grove Bank & Trust raised its position in Prudential Financial by 65.9% in the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 219 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in Prudential Financial in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. CGC Financial Services LLC raised its position 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 worth $33,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its position in Prudential Financial by 376.3% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 281 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Wealth Management Group LLC raised its position in Prudential Financial by 119.0% in the 4th quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 322 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.83% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Prudential Financial from $130.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Prudential Financial from $149.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Prudential Financial from an "underperform" rating to an "inline" rating and upped their price target for the company from $117.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $128.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $125.46.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Insurance Co Of Ame Prudential acquired 537,249 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $27.92 per share, with a total value of $14,999,992.08. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 4,780,293 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $133,465,780.56. The trade was a 12.66 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Prudential Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PRU traded down $0.37 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $111.54. 1,276,794 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,723,786. The company's 50 day moving average price is $118.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $119.95. The firm has a market cap of $39.71 billion, a PE ratio of 14.93, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.14. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 52 week low of $104.44 and a 52 week high of $130.55.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.36 by ($0.40). Prudential Financial had a net margin of 4.01% and a return on equity of 15.86%. On average, equities analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 14.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.84%. This is an increase from Prudential Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. Prudential Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 69.61%.

About Prudential Financial

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.