Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) Stock Position Raised by Machina Capital S.A.S.

Machina Capital S.A.S. lifted its position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) by 258.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,280 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 10,292 shares during the quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S.’s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $1,693,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Savant Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 14,382 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,705,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 65.9% during the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 219 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 28.4% during the 4th quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 420 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the period. RNC Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. RNC Capital Management LLC now owns 2,990 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $354,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. Finally, Hardy Reed LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Hardy Reed LLC now owns 6,202 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $751,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.83% of the company’s stock.

Prudential Financial Trading Up 1.1 %

PRU opened at $111.35 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.86 billion, a PE ratio of 14.91, a PEG ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.28. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 1-year low of $104.44 and a 1-year high of $130.55. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $115.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $119.70.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.36 by ($0.40). Prudential Financial had a net margin of 4.01% and a return on equity of 15.86%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 14.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This is a boost from Prudential Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.85%. Prudential Financial’s payout ratio is currently 72.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

PRU has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $136.00 to $128.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 28th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $149.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $129.00 to $125.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $130.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $126.15.

Prudential Financial Company Profile

Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments.