Czech National Bank Raises Stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) by 5.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 62,855 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 3,165 shares during the period. Czech National Bank’s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $6,876,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 27.9% in the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 403 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.0% in the third quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 2,444 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $287,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Catalina Capital Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.3% during the third quarter. Catalina Capital Group LLC now owns 2,488 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.9% in the third quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 5,621 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $661,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the period. Finally, Tectonic Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2.6% in the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 4,566 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $537,000 after buying an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. 93.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE:HIG opened at $109.36 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $114.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $112.49. 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, Inc. has a 1-year low of $81.87 and a 1-year high of $124.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.98.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.90%. This is a boost from The Hartford Financial Services Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The Hartford Financial Services Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.84%.

Insider Buying and Selling at The Hartford Financial Services Group

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on HIG shares. StockNews.com raised The Hartford Financial Services Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. 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 research note on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.