Axecap Investments LLC Buys 1,655 Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG)

Axecap Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG) by 17.0% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 11,414 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,655 shares during the quarter. Axecap Investments LLC’s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $1,249,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. DT Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3,342.9% in the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 241 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the period. Barrett & Company Inc. lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 46.5% during the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 293 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.42% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on HIG. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $139.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $130.00 to $126.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $125.00 price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Barclays upgraded The Hartford Financial Services Group from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $130.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Nine 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $122.94.

Insider Transactions at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In related news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total transaction of $803,479.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,820 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,021,972.80. This trade represents a 21.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock opened at $111.97 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $89.79 and a 1 year high of $124.90. The firm has a market cap of $32.46 billion, a PE ratio of 10.82, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $111.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $113.92.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The insurance provider reported $2.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.26. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 11.72% and a return on equity of 19.55%. Analysts expect that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 11.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.