Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGI) Shares Acquired by MetLife Investment Management LLC

MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGI - Free Report) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 69,928 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 5,236 shares during the quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC owned 0.12% of Selective Insurance Group worth $6,540,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its holdings in Selective Insurance Group by 2.7% in the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 52,742 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $4,929,000 after buying an additional 1,393 shares in the last quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Selective Insurance Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $10,484,000. Bridgewater Associates LP purchased a new position in Selective Insurance Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $530,000. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Selective Insurance Group by 29.2% during the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 148,341 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $13,871,000 after purchasing an additional 33,551 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Optimize Financial Inc purchased a new stake in Selective Insurance Group during the fourth quarter worth $337,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.88% of the company's stock.

Selective Insurance Group Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ SIGI opened at $91.32 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.34 and a quick ratio of 0.34. The company has a market cap of $5.55 billion, a PE ratio of 28.36 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $86.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $91.37. Selective Insurance Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $78.13 and a 12 month high of $104.67.

Selective Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SIGI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The insurance provider reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.37). Selective Insurance Group had a return on equity of 7.33% and a net margin of 4.26%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Selective Insurance Group, Inc. will post 7.62 earnings per share for the current year.

Selective Insurance Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.66%. Selective Insurance Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.20%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and set a $93.00 price target (down previously from $116.00) on shares of Selective Insurance Group in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Selective Insurance Group from $95.00 to $87.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Selective Insurance Group in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $95.17.

Selective Insurance Group Profile

Selective Insurance Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Standard Commercial Lines, Standard Personal Lines, E&S Lines, and Investments. It offers casualty insurance products that covers the financial consequences of employee injuries in the course of employment and bodily injury and/or property damage to a third party; property insurance products, which covers the accidental loss of an insured's real property, personal property, and/or earnings due to the property's loss; and flood insurance products.

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