O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC Acquires Shares of 19,120 Prudential plc (NYSE:PUK)

O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Prudential plc (NYSE:PUK) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 19,120 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $305,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Prudential by 417.0% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,856 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,497 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Prudential during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Advisors Preferred LLC bought a new position in shares of Prudential during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Prudential by 95.8% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,303 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 1,127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new position in Prudential during the 4th quarter valued at $163,000. Institutional investors own 1.90% of the company’s stock.

Prudential Stock Up 1.9 %

PUK opened at $19.49 on Friday. Prudential plc has a 52 week low of $14.39 and a 52 week high of $22.01. The company has a market capitalization of $25.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.40, a PEG ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.00. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $19.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.47.

Prudential Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 28th will be issued a $0.3258 dividend. This is an increase from Prudential’s previous dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. Prudential’s payout ratio is presently 28.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Prudential in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Prudential from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy”.

Prudential Profile

Prudential plc, through its subsidiaries, provides life and health insurance, and asset management solutions to individuals in Asia and Africa. The company was founded in 1848 and is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong.