Prudential Financial Inc (PRU): Today's Featured Insurance Winner

Prudential Financial (PRU) pushed the Insurance industry higher today making it today's featured insurance winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.8%. By the end of trading, Prudential Financial rose $2.46 (5.2%) to $50.04 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5.6 million shares of Prudential Financial exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of four million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $47.85-$50.32 after having opened the day at $48.21 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $47.58. Other companies within the Insurance industry that increased today were: Lincoln National Corp (Radnor (LNC), up 7.6%, Homeowners Choice (HCII), up 6.4%, Kingstone Companies (KINS), up 5.9%, and Safety Insurance Group (SAFT), up 5.6%.

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Prudential Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, and investment management services in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential Financial has a market cap of $22.55 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 12.2, below the average insurance industry P/E ratio of 12.3 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 3.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate Prudential Financial a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Prudential Financial as a hold. Among the primary strengths of the company is its reasonable valuation levels, considering its current price compared to earnings, book value and other measures. At the same time, however, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, generally poor debt management and disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Prudential Financial Ratings Report.

On the negative front, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG), down 64.1%, Radian Group (RDN), down 14.1%, Genworth Financial (GNW), down 8%, and Tower Group (TWGP), down 5.6%, were all laggards within the insurance industry with Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) being today's insurance industry laggard.

• Use our insurance section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the insurance industry could consider KBW Insurance ETF (KIE) while those bearish on the insurance industry could consider Proshares Short Financials (SEF).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Prudential Financial Inc click any of the following:

• Prudential Financial Inc Stock Price

• Prudential Financial Inc Analyst Ratings

• Prudential Financial Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Prudential Financial Inc Earnings

• Prudential Financial Inc Ratio Comparison

• Prudential Financial Inc Growth Rates

• Prudential Financial Inc Balance Sheet

• Prudential Financial Inc Cash Flow

• Prudential Financial Inc Income Statement