The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) Shares Acquired by UMB Bank n.a.

UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) by 612.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 32,528 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 27,963 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.’s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $3,559,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. DT Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. increased its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3,342.9% during the 4th quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 241 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Clean Yield Group acquired a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the third quarter worth about $33,000. BNP Paribas purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 93.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Performance

The Hartford Financial Services Group stock opened at $111.96 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap 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 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 stock’s 50-day moving average is $114.03 and its 200-day moving average is $112.75.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

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

Insider Buying and Selling at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In related news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,021,972.80. The trade was a 21.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Bank of America upped their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $121.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays upgraded shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the company from $130.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, 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. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued 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 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.