The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.26 EPS

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG - Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Thursday. The insurance provider reported $2.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.26, Zacks reports. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 20.35% and a net margin of 11.62%.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 2.4 %

NYSE:HIG traded down $2.75 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $111.51. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,019,217 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,374,427. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market cap of $32.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.98. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $112.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $113.42. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a twelve month low of $85.34 and a twelve month high of $124.90.

Insider Transactions at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In related news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.60% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on HIG shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $130.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com raised shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $121.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. UBS Group boosted their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, The Hartford Financial Services Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $122.28.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Company Profile

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.