Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the thirteen analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eleven have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $120.7273.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on PRU shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on Prudential Financial from $117.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $120.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Prudential Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Prudential Financial in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. They set a “peer perform” rating on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th.

Prudential Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE PRU opened at $108.34 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $37.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.05. Prudential Financial has a 52-week low of $90.38 and a 52-week high of $130.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $103.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $104.83.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 15th. The financial services provider reported $3.58 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $8.35 billion during the quarter. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 16.98% and a net margin of 4.65%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Prudential Financial will post 14.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 18th will be given a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 18th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.0%. Prudential Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 74.18%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Ann M. Kappler sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.65, for a total value of $438,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 21,506 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,358,132.90. This represents a 15.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Chairman Charles F. Lowrey sold 48,164 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.39, for a total transaction of $5,172,331.96. Following the transaction, the chairman directly owned 165,564 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,779,917.96. This represents a 22.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prudential Financial

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in Prudential Financial in the third quarter worth $54,000. Trust Investment Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 2.9% in the third quarter. Trust Investment Advisors now owns 10,743 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,114,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in Prudential Financial by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 28,795 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,987,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. Prana Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Prudential Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $18,205,000. Finally, CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. bought a new position in Prudential Financial in the 3rd quarter worth about $5,045,000. 56.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments.