Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Sells 9,726 Shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. $PRU

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lessened its position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) by 9.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 94,696 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 9,726 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $10,689,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sunflower Bank N.A. grew its stake in Prudential Financial by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Sunflower Bank N.A. now owns 2,911 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $329,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the period. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Prudential Financial by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 10,022 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,131,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its stake in Prudential Financial by 0.3% in the third quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 28,795 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,987,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Prudential Financial by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,175 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $471,000 after buying an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mindset Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Prudential Financial by 2.1% in the third quarter. Mindset Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,781 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $496,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 56.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Prudential Financial

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

• Positive Sentiment: PGIM names Brian Towers to lead Global Insurance & Strategic Partnerships — this strengthens Prudential’s asset-management distribution and could help PGIM deepen insurer relationships and integrated solutions over time. PGIM Appoints Brian Towers to Lead Global Insurance and Strategic Partnerships
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst Keefe, Bruyette & Woods trimmed its price target to $100 and moved to “market perform” — a modest revision that still implies slight upside but is not a bullish endorsement. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods coverage (Benzinga)
• Neutral Sentiment: Piper Sandler lowered its target to $99 and kept a neutral rating — another modest downgrade that trims upside expectations but is not a sell signal. Piper Sandler coverage (Benzinga)
• Negative Sentiment: Prudential extended a Japan sales suspension and warned the affiliate’s misconduct probe will hit 2026 operating income by roughly $525M–$575M — a direct, near-term earnings headwind that analysts and investors view as material. Prudential Stock Slumps. A Misconduct Probe in Japan Is Getting ‘Ugly.’
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays downgraded PRU from “equal weight” to “underweight” and cut its target to $91 — a significant negative signal from a major bank that lowers investor appetite. Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) Stock Rating Lowered by Barclays
• Negative Sentiment: Jefferies downgraded PRU from “buy” to “hold” and slashed its price target to $98 — another influential analyst trimming conviction and reducing near-term upside. Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) Rating Lowered to “Hold” at Jefferies Financial Group
• Negative Sentiment: BMO cut its price target to $87 and assigned an “underperform” — one of the more bearish price-target moves, increasing downside risk in the near term. BMO coverage (Benzinga)

Prudential Financial Trading Down 0.5%

Prudential Financial stock opened at $94.38 on Friday. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a one year low of $91.89 and a one year high of $119.76. The company has a market cap of $32.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.95. 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 has a 50-day moving average of $97.73 and a 200-day moving average of $104.77.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The financial services provider reported $3.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by ($0.07). Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 16.32% and a net margin of 6.20%.The company had revenue of $14.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.96 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 13.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 12th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.9%. This is a boost from Prudential Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.35. Prudential Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PRU has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the company from $124.00 to $98.00 in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Prudential Financial from $133.00 to $127.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Bank of America dropped their price target on Prudential Financial from $112.00 to $104.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Prudential Financial from $105.00 to $99.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Evercore reissued a “negative” rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $101.75.

Insider Transactions at Prudential Financial

In other Prudential Financial news, EVP Jacques Chappuis bought 1,000 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $100.97 per share, for a total transaction of $100,970.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president owned 1,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $100,970. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Thomas D. Stoddard bought 250 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $102.97 per share, with a total value of $25,742.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 250 shares in the company, valued at $25,742.50. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have bought 1,650 shares of company stock worth $168,841 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

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.