Empirical Asset Management LLC Reduces Position in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

Empirical Asset Management LLC decreased its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) by 4.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 11,181 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 489 shares during the quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC’s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $1,223,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 437.9% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 871,318 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $95,322,000 after buying an additional 709,324 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 31,680.4% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 694,084 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $816,310,000 after acquiring an additional 691,900 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 17.3% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,938,421 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $430,272,000 after acquiring an additional 581,103 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 42.1% in the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 935,298 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $110,000,000 after purchasing an additional 277,295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC raised its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7,564.9% in the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 248,648 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $29,243,000 after purchasing an additional 245,404 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.42% of the company’s stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Performance

Shares of HIG stock opened at $111.96 on Friday. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $81.87 and a 12-month high of $124.90. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $32.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $114.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $112.48.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $0.52 dividend. This is a boost from The Hartford Financial Services Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.86%. The Hartford Financial Services Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 20.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

HIG has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. UBS Group upped their price target on 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. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $121.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Barclays raised shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $130.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $122.28.

Insider Activity

In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total transaction of $803,479.60. Following 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

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.