Prudential Financial, Inc. $PRU Shares Bought by Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich

Key Points

• Munich Re dramatically increased its stake in Prudential, raising its position by 2,669% in Q4 to 46,990 shares (an additional 45,293 shares) worth about $5.34 million.
• Prudential raised its quarterly dividend to $1.40 (annualized $5.60), implying a 5.9% yield and a payout ratio of 56%.
• The company reported an earnings miss ($3.30 EPS vs. $3.37 expected) and faces growing headwinds from multiple analyst downgrades and an extended Japan sales suspension, with the stock carrying an average MarketBeat rating of "Reduce."

Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich raised its position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU - Free Report) by 2,669.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 46,990 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 45,293 shares during the quarter. Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich's holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $5,342,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in PRU. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,681 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $436,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 30.5% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 17,690 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,976,000 after acquiring an additional 4,134 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 4,164 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $447,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. AXA S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 25.8% in the 2nd quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 56,700 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $6,092,000 after acquiring an additional 11,630 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 15.1% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 37,277 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $4,005,000 after acquiring an additional 4,895 shares during the last quarter. 56.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Prudential Financial Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE PRU opened at $94.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $97.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.71. The company has a market capitalization of $32.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.95. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 12 month low of $91.89 and a 12 month high of $119.76.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU - Get 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 company had revenue of $14.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.48 billion. Prudential Financial had a net margin of 6.20% and a return on equity of 16.32%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.96 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 13.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 12th. Investors 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 an increase from Prudential Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $1.35. Prudential Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on PRU. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $91.00 to $87.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Barclays lowered shares of Prudential Financial from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $110.00 to $91.00 in a report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a report on Friday, March 13th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $133.00 to $127.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Reduce" and an average price target of $101.75.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Prudential Financial news, Director Joseph J. Wolk purchased 400 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $105.32 per share, for a total transaction of $42,128.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,128. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jacques Chappuis purchased 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $100.97 per share, with a total value of $100,970.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president owned 1,000 shares in the company, valued at $100,970. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders acquired a total of 1,650 shares of company stock worth $168,841 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.05% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Prudential Financial

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

• Positive Sentiment: PGIM (Prudential’s asset management arm) named Brian Towers to lead Global Insurance & Strategic Partnerships, which could help deepen insurer relationships and drive integrated investment solutions for PGIM/Prudential over the medium term. PGIM Appoints Brian Towers to Lead Global Insurance and Strategic Partnerships
• Neutral Sentiment: A comparative piece examines Prudential vs. insurtech Lemonade; useful context on competitive positioning but unlikely to drive material near‑term moves. Head to Head Review: Prudential Financial NYSE: PRU vs. Lemonade NYSE: LMND
• Neutral Sentiment: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods trimmed its price target from $104 to $100 and kept a “market perform” rating — a modest revision that still implies slight upside, so impact on sentiment is limited. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods price target note (Benzinga)
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry M&A chatter (CVC/Standard Life pensions) is being reported; sector activity can change strategic dynamics for pension/asset managers but isn’t a direct company event for PRU today. Cvc Capital-Led Group Emerges as Frontrunner in Standard Life Pensions Deal
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays cut its rating on PRU, signaling weaker analyst conviction and likely pressuring sentiment and flows. Prudential Financial NYSE: PRU Stock Rating Lowered by Barclays
• Negative Sentiment: Jefferies lowered PRU to a “Hold,” another analyst downgrade that reduces buy-side momentum and further weighs on the stock. Prudential Financial NYSE: PRU Rating Lowered to "Hold" at Jefferies Financial Group
• Negative Sentiment: BMO cut its price target to $87 and moved to “underperform,” and BMO’s note raises downside risk versus peers and the market — a clear headwind for sentiment. BMO price target cut (Benzinga)
• Negative Sentiment: Prudential extended a sales suspension in Japan by another 180 days and disclosed incremental financial impacts — this directly reduces near‑term new business and revenue in a key region and is cited by management as having measurable financial effects. Coverage includes a Seeking Alpha slideshow and reporting on the extension. Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) Discusses Extension of Sales Suspension and Financial Implications for Japan Operations - Slideshow Prudential extends Japan sales suspension by another 180 days Prudential outlines Japan sales suspension's financial impact

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.

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