International Assets Investment Management LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

International Assets Investment Management LLC reduced its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) by 99.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,661 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 688,423 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC’s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $617,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2,750.0% during 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 during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the second quarter valued at about $159,000. PFG Investments LLC increased its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 6.4% during the second quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 2,493 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $251,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. raised its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.8% in the second quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 5,990 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $602,000 after acquiring an additional 431 shares during the period. Finally, Choreo LLC purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the second quarter valued at about $594,000. 93.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 2.9 %

NYSE HIG opened at $106.25 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $114.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $112.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $81.69 and a twelve month high of $124.90. The company has a market capitalization of $30.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.65, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.98.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.96%. This is a positive change from The Hartford Financial Services Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The Hartford Financial Services Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 20.84%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total value 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HIG has been the topic of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Bank of America lifted their price target 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. Barclays raised The Hartford Financial Services Group from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $130.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $122.50.

The Hartford Financial Services Group 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.