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

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG - Get Free Report) will likely be posting its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, April 24th. Analysts expect The Hartford Financial Services Group to post earnings of $2.28 per share and revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter. Persons that are interested in participating in the company's earnings conference call can do so using this link.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The insurance provider reported $2.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 11.72% and a return on equity of 19.55%. On average, analysts expect The Hartford Financial Services Group to post $11 EPS for the current fiscal year and $13 EPS for the next fiscal year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Price Performance

HIG traded up $0.69 during trading on Friday, reaching $117.84. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,403,365 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,578,707. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a 1 year low of $94.47 and a 1 year high of $125.08. The company has a market cap of $33.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.39, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $116.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $115.36.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 presently 20.10%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Robert W. Paiano sold 13,138 shares of the company'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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,678 shares in the company, valued at $3,712,661.60. This represents a 29.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Christopher Swift sold 98,061 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.39, for a total transaction of $11,805,563.79. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 211,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,412,161.98. This trade represents a 31.72 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 112,343 shares of company stock valued at $13,488,337. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $125.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $126.00 to $125.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Raymond James upped their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, March 31st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $140.00 to $133.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $125.00 price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $124.13.

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.