CNA Financial (NYSE:CNA) Reaches New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Shares of CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE:CNA - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $44.57 and last traded at $44.75, with a volume of 174189 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $45.07.

CNA Financial Stock Down 1.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.90 billion, a PE ratio of 13.41, a PEG ratio of 5.85 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $46.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $47.95.

CNA Financial (NYSE:CNA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The insurance provider reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $3.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.68 billion. CNA Financial had a return on equity of 11.99% and a net margin of 6.19%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that CNA Financial Corporation will post 4.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CNA Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th were paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.18%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 19th. CNA Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.10%.

Insider Transactions at CNA Financial

In related news, EVP Mark Steven James sold 5,015 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.35, for a total transaction of $242,475.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 27,059 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,308,302.65. This trade represents a 15.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Dino Robusto sold 6,250 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.61, for a total value of $297,562.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman owned 711,838 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,890,607.18. This trade represents a 0.87% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 17,515 shares of company stock worth $837,725 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of CNA Financial in the 1st quarter valued at about $887,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of CNA Financial by 37.8% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 27,934 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,419,000 after acquiring an additional 7,665 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CNA Financial in the 1st quarter worth approximately $470,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of CNA Financial by 5,501.5% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 114,887 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $5,835,000 after acquiring an additional 112,836 shares during the period. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of CNA Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $387,000. 98.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About CNA Financial

CNA Financial Corporation provides commercial property and casualty insurance products in the United States and internationally. It operates through Specialty, Commercial, International, Life & Group, and Corporate & Other segments. The company offers professional liability coverages and risk management services to various professional firms, including architects, real estate agents, and accounting and law firms; directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, and fidelity and cyber coverages to small and mid-size firms, public and privately held firms, and not-for-profit organizations; professional and general liability, as well as associated casualty coverages for healthcare industry; surety and fidelity bonds; and warranty and alternative risks products.