Loews (NYSE:L) Sets New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

Loews Corporation (NYSE:L - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $93.23 and last traded at $92.77, with a volume of 155399 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $92.18.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Loews from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th.

Loews Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. The stock has a market cap of $19.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.16 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $89.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $87.05.

Loews (NYSE:L - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The insurance provider reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter. Loews had a net margin of 7.47% and a return on equity of 7.43%. The company had revenue of $4.49 billion for the quarter.

Loews Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 28th were given a $0.0625 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 28th. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.27%. Loews's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.11%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Richard Waldo Scott sold 9,019 shares of Loews stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.92, for a total value of $792,950.48. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 33,901 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,980,575.92. This trade represents a 21.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 18.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Loews

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BSW Wealth Partners lifted its holdings in shares of Loews by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter. BSW Wealth Partners now owns 2,812 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp lifted its holdings in Loews by 28,859.4% in the second quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 9,267 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $856,000 after buying an additional 9,235 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Loews by 12.5% during the 2nd quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,635 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Loews in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $237,000. Finally, Novem Group raised its position in shares of Loews by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Novem Group now owns 10,257 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $940,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.33% of the company's stock.

Loews Company Profile

Loews Corporation provides commercial property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally. The company offers specialty insurance products, such as management and professional liability, and other coverage products; surety and fidelity bonds; property insurance products that include standard and excess property, marine and boiler, and machinery coverages; and casualty insurance products, such as workers' compensation, general and product liability, and commercial auto, surplus, and umbrella coverages.