CWS Financial Advisors LLC Acquires 649 Shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU)

CWS Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) by 35.4% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,481 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 649 shares during the period. CWS Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $294,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Savant Capital LLC raised its holdings in Prudential Financial by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 14,382 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,705,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust increased its position in Prudential Financial by 65.9% during the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 219 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC increased its position in Prudential Financial by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 7,357 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $891,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Asset Dedication LLC increased its position in Prudential Financial by 28.4% during the 4th quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 420 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, RNC Capital Management LLC increased its position in Prudential Financial by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. RNC Capital Management LLC now owns 2,990 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 56.83% of the company’s stock.

Prudential Financial Price Performance

Shares of PRU opened at $110.54 on Tuesday. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 12-month low of $104.44 and a 12-month high of $130.55. The business’s fifty day moving average is $116.67 and its 200 day moving average is $119.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market cap of $39.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.31.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.36 by ($0.40). Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 15.86% and a net margin of 4.01%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 14.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from Prudential Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.89%. Prudential Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 72.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI raised shares of Prudential Financial from an “underperform” rating to an “inline” rating and increased their target price for the company from $117.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $113.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $129.00 to $125.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an “underperform” rating and a $101.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $125.69.

Prudential Financial Profile

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.