SFE Investment Counsel Has $9.07 Million Stock Holdings in Prudential Financial, Inc. $PRU

SFE Investment Counsel boosted its stake in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) by 7.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 80,330 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,347 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial comprises about 1.4% of SFE Investment Counsel’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd biggest position. SFE Investment Counsel’s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $9,068,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of PRU. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 47.4% during the fourth quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,106 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $576,000 after buying an additional 1,641 shares during the last quarter. Madison Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Prudential Financial during the fourth quarter valued at about $642,000. Community Bank N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 22.3% during the fourth quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 674 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 104.6% during the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 12,164 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,373,000 after buying an additional 6,220 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 36.7% during the fourth quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al now owns 382,900 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $43,222,000 after buying an additional 102,700 shares during the last quarter. 56.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Prudential Financial News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its price target on Prudential Financial to $106 from $100, signaling room for additional upside even though it kept a market perform rating. Benzinga report on KBW price target increase
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo issued a positive forecast for Prudential Financial, which adds to sentiment that earnings and fundamentals remain solid. Wells Fargo positive forecast article
• Positive Sentiment: Prudential declared a quarterly dividend of $1.40 per share, reinforcing its appeal to income investors with a roughly 5.5% annualized yield. Prudential Financial declares quarterly dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo also raised its target price to $100 while maintaining an underweight rating, suggesting limited downside but not a strongly bullish stance. Wells Fargo target price update
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional coverage from Piper Sandler lifted its target to $105, adding to the broader analyst debate around fair value for PRU. Piper Sandler price target raise

Insider Activity

In other Prudential Financial news, Director Thomas D. Stoddard purchased 250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of $102.97 per share, with a total value of $25,742.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 250 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,742.50. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Prudential Financial Stock Performance

Shares of PRU stock opened at $102.44 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $35.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 52 week low of $91.89 and a 52 week high of $119.76. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $96.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $104.56.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The financial services provider reported $3.61 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.09 by $0.52. The business had revenue of $15.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.10 billion. Prudential Financial had a net margin of 5.83% and a return on equity of 16.33%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.29 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 13.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Prudential Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 26th will be given a $1.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 26th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.5%. Prudential Financial’s payout ratio is currently 57.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $92.00 price objective (down from $106.00) on shares of Prudential Financial in a report on Monday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $133.00 to $127.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $91.00 to $87.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $89.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $112.00 to $104.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $101.50.

About Prudential Financial

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.