Roxbury Financial LLC Takes Position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU)

Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) during the fourth quarter, according to their latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 15,180 shares of Prudential's stock, valued at around $1,965,000. This investment now represents about 1.9% of Roxbury Financial LLC's total portfolio, making Prudential Financial its 14th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently adjusted their positions in Prudential Financial. For instance, ABC Arbitrage SA bought a new stake worth $1,192,000 during the same quarter. Similarly, Vicus Capital increased its holdings by 2.5%, now owning a total of 8,936 shares valued at $1,059,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares. V Square Quantitative Management LLC also raised its stake by 5.0%, acquiring 9,898 shares worth $1,173,000 following an additional 467 shares purchased. Additionally, Palacios Wealth Management LLC and Values Added Financial LLC entered new positions in Prudential Financial, valued at approximately $335,000 and $226,000, respectively. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds now own approximately 56.83% of Prudential's stock.

Prudential Financial Stock Performance

As of the last trading session, PRU stock opened at $111.54. The company has recorded a twelve-month low of $104.44 and a high of $130.55. Additionally, Prudential Financial's quick ratio stands at 0.14, while its current ratio is at 0.16, and the debt-to-equity ratio is at 0.68. The 50-day moving average is $118.17, while the 200-day moving average is $119.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.93, and a beta of 1.31.

Recent Earnings and Dividend News

Prudential Financial recently announced its earnings for the quarter, reporting $2.96 earnings per share. This was below analysts' expectations of $3.36, indicating a miss of $0.40. The company had a net margin of 4.01% and a return on equity of 15.86%. Analysts predict that Prudential Financial will achieve an earnings per share of 14.38 for the current fiscal year.

Moreover, Prudential has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, to be paid on March 13th, to investors recorded as of February 18th. This is an increase from the previous dividend of $1.30, equating to an annualized dividend of $5.40, which results in a yield of 4.84%. The company's current dividend payout ratio is approximately 69.61%.

Insider Transactions at Prudential Financial

In recent insider news, the major shareholder Insurance Co Of Ame Prudential bought 537,249 shares at an average price of $27.92 each, totaling around $14,999,992.08. This transaction increased their ownership in the company by 12.66%, now holding a total of 4,780,293 shares valued at over $133 million. Insiders currently hold about 0.31% of Prudential Financial's stock.

Analyst Recommendations and Market Outlook

Prudential Financial has been the subject of several recent research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price from $129.00 to $125.00 and maintained a “market perform” rating. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage with an “underperform” rating and a $101.00 target. Conversely, Evercore ISI upgraded Prudential from “underperform” to “inline,” raising their price target from $117.00 to $140.00. Wells Fargo reduced their target from $117.00 to $115.00 while keeping an “equal weight” rating. Barclays increased their forecast from $128.00 to $134.00, also assigning an “equal weight” rating. In total, one analyst has given a sell rating, ten have rated it hold, one has rated it buy, and one has issued a strong buy opinion, giving Prudential an average rating of “Hold” and a mean target price of $125.46.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of insurance, investment management, and various financial products and services both in the United States and internationally. The firm operates through various segments, including PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses.

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