BMO Capital Markets Cuts Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) Price Target to $87.00

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRUFree Report) had its price objective reduced by BMO Capital Markets from $91.00 to $87.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has an underperform rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Prudential Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $124.00 to $98.00 in a report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Prudential Financial from $103.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 10th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Evercore reiterated a “negative” rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $133.00 to $127.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $101.75.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial Stock Down 0.0%

Prudential Financial stock opened at $94.31 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $32.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.43, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $97.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $104.72. Prudential Financial has a 12 month low of $91.89 and a 12 month high of $119.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRUGet Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The financial services provider reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $14.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.48 billion. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 16.32% and a net margin of 6.20%.During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.96 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Prudential Financial will post 13.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.9%. This is a boost from Prudential Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.35. Prudential Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Prudential Financial

In related news, EVP Jacques Chappuis acquired 1,000 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $100.97 per share, for a total transaction of $100,970.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president directly owned 1,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $100,970. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Joseph J. Wolk acquired 400 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $105.32 per share, with a total value of $42,128.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 400 shares in the company, valued at $42,128. This represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders purchased 1,650 shares of company stock worth $168,841. Insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prudential Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jessup Wealth Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Garton & Associates Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 98.3% in the 4th quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 230 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 93.1% in the 1st quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 278 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lodestone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. 56.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Prudential Financial News

Here are the key news stories impacting Prudential Financial this week:

Prudential Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Prudential Financial, Inc, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, is a diversified financial services company with roots dating to 1875. The firm provides a range of insurance, retirement and investment products aimed at helping individual and institutional clients manage risk, accumulate and protect wealth, and plan for retirement. Prudential’s long history in life insurance and related financial services has positioned it as a major participant in the U.S. insurance market and a provider of services to a broad client base.

Prudential’s core business activities include individual life insurance, annuities, retirement solutions and group insurance products for employers.

Further Reading

Analyst Recommendations for Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU)

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