As we approach the halfway point for 2012, now's a good time to look back at what's happening with the stocks that interest you. By making sure you know the important things that a company accomplished -- as well as the setbacks it experienced -- you can make a better decision about whether it's a smart investment for your portfolio.
Today, let's take a look at Hartford Financial
Stats on Hartford Financial
2012 YTD Return | 1.7% |
Market Capitalization | $7.2 billion |
Total Revenue, Most Recent Quarter | $7.66 billion |
Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth, Most Recent Quarter | 21.6% |
Net Income, Most Recent Quarter | $96 million |
Year-Over-Year Net Income Growth, Most Recent Quarter | (80.8%) |
CAPS Rating | **** |
Source: S&P Capital IQ.
Why is Hartford treading water?
Hartford had a pretty poor 2011, losing more than a third of its share price in a very bad year for insurance companies generally. Property and casualty peer Allstate
Several insurance companies have taken some pretty bold steps in the face of the difficulties that a low-interest rate environment and a challenging stock market have created. Genworth Financial
But some of the stock's recent decline may stem from activist investor John Paulson choosing to scale back his holdings of Hartford during the first quarter. Moreover, financial stocks have been weak in May and June, as fears about Europe hurt the stock market and have pushed bond yields even lower, creating more problems for insurance companies.
Going forward, Hartford seems to be focusing on its property and casualty insurance business, along with mutual funds and employer-group-related benefits. If these businesses can produce better margins than annuities and other financial services, then Hartford could well gain from the moves in the long run.
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