The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) Shares Sold by Manning & Napier Advisors LLC

Manning & Napier Advisors LLC lowered its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG - Free Report) by 8.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 99,162 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 9,250 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC's holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $10,848,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 111,134 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $13,063,000 after acquiring an additional 7,350 shares during the period. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd grew its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.3% during the third quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd now owns 137,506 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $16,172,000 after purchasing an additional 4,449 shares in the last quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $633,000. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI bought a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the third quarter worth $19,005,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. raised its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 314,849 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $37,029,000 after buying an additional 10,566 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.42% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total transaction of $803,479.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,021,972.80. This trade represents a 21.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company's stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of HIG stock traded up $0.51 on Thursday, hitting $114.01. 518,618 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,472,689. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $113.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $113.35. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $85.34 and a twelve month high of $124.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.05 billion, a PE ratio of 11.42, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.98.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on HIG shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $130.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $122.28.

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.