Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI Invests $19.01 Million in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI bought a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 161,594 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $19,005,000. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI owned approximately 0.06% of The Hartford Financial Services Group as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. DT Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Clean Yield Group bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Quest Partners LLC grew its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2,750.0% in the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 285 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas bought a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 93.42% of the company’s stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 1.4 %

NYSE HIG opened at $119.54 on Friday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $117.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $110.81. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a one year low of $77.82 and a one year high of $124.90. The company has a market capitalization of $34.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.95. 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 Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be paid a $0.52 dividend. This is an increase from The Hartford Financial Services Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.74%. The Hartford Financial Services Group’s payout ratio is 20.84%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total value of $803,479.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,820 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,021,972.80. The trade was a 21.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on HIG shares. Barclays assumed coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $130.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $122.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 17th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $133.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $122.00.

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.