The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG) Sets New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as $167.89 and last traded at $168.25, with a volume of 10326 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $166.00.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on The Hanover Insurance Group from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded The Hanover Insurance Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $176.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays upgraded The Hanover Insurance Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on The Hanover Insurance Group from $161.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $176.00 to $179.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, The Hanover Insurance Group presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $175.25.

The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Up 1.4 %

The firm's 50 day moving average price is $157.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $153.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.22 billion, a PE ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $5.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.45 by $1.87. The Hanover Insurance Group had a net margin of 6.83% and a return on equity of 18.01%. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 14.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The Hanover Insurance Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.08%. The Hanover Insurance Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Hanover Insurance Group

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 7,163 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,092,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. AMG National Trust Bank increased its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. AMG National Trust Bank now owns 10,776 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,658,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,822 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $270,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Ironwood Investment Management LLC now owns 9,703 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,501,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in The Hanover Insurance Group by 49.5% in the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 272 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. 86.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About The Hanover Insurance Group

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.