Merit Financial Group LLC Buys 5,064 Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) by 251.4% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 7,078 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,064 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC’s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $774,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 111,134 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $13,063,000 after acquiring an additional 7,350 shares in the last quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd grew its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd now owns 137,506 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $16,172,000 after buying an additional 4,449 shares in the last quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter worth $633,000. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI purchased a new stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $19,005,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. raised its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 314,849 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $37,029,000 after buying an additional 10,566 shares in the last quarter. 93.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In related 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 transaction of $803,479.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares in the company, valued at $3,021,972.80. The trade was a 21.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 0.4 %

HIG opened at $111.57 on Thursday. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a one year low of $85.34 and a one year 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 business has a 50 day simple moving average of $113.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $112.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.18, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.98.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on HIG shares. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Bank of America increased 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. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. 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 assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock 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.