Analyst Ratings February 2, 2026

Wells Fargo Lifts Hartford Financial Target to $156 as Q4 Results Outperform Expectations

Analyst upbeat on personal lines pricing normalization and agency growth despite competitive pressures

By Leila Farooq HIG
Wells Fargo Lifts Hartford Financial Target to $156 as Q4 Results Outperform Expectations
HIG

Wells Fargo increased its price objective for Hartford Financial Services Group to $156 from $153 and maintained an Overweight rating, citing moderating auto pricing and expected improvements in customer retention. The firm highlighted Hartford’s growth initiatives and favorable valuation metrics, while the company’s strong fourth-quarter 2025 results and a separate analyst reaffirmation have reinforced investor confidence.

Key Points

  • Wells Fargo raised its price target on Hartford to $156 from $153 and kept an Overweight rating, implying about 15% upside from a $135.06 share price.
  • Analyst Elyse Greenspan expects auto pricing to moderate to 6-7% in 2026, which should aid customer retention; Hartford’s Prevail product is live in 10 states with plans for 30 more by early 2027.
  • Hartford outperformed expectations in Q4 2025 with EPS of $4.06 versus $3.20 forecast and revenue of $7.34 billion versus $7.29 billion, and Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an Overweight rating with a $160 target.

Wells Fargo has raised its price target on Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG) to $156.00 from $153.00 and kept an Overweight recommendation on the insurer. The new target implies roughly 15% upside from Hartford’s prevailing share price of $135.06, according to the data cited by the analyst note. Hartford trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.14 and carries a market capitalization of $37.4 billion.

In commentary accompanying the target change, Wells Fargo analyst Elyse Greenspan pointed to developments in Hartford’s personal lines franchise. Greenspan expects auto insurance pricing to moderate to the 6-7% range in 2026 - a move the analyst says should support better customer retention. That outlook underpins part of the rationale for the more bullish target.

Valuation measures referenced in the analyst note include a low PEG ratio of 0.34, as shown by InvestingPro data, which the note presents as an indicator of potential value relative to forecast growth. The research also highlighted Hartford’s financial strength score of 3.48 on InvestingPro’s scale, a metric the firm interprets as supportive of the company’s ability to execute its strategic plans.

On the product and distribution front, Wells Fargo noted multiple initiatives intended to drive new business. Hartford’s Prevail product is live in 10 states currently, with plans to expand to an additional 30 states by early 2027. The firm expressed optimism about agency channel expansion and expects policies-in-force to grow in both the auto and homeowners segments. At the same time, Wells Fargo cautioned that the direct channel for Hartford will likely remain a tougher growth environment.

The price-target revision comes amid a backdrop the analyst characterizes as competitive in personal lines, but the adjustment signals continued confidence in Hartford’s strategy and execution despite that landscape.


Quarterly results and peer analyst response

Hartford reported stronger-than-expected financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025. The company posted earnings per share of $4.06, well above the $3.20 consensus projection. Revenue for the quarter reached $7.34 billion, topping the $7.29 billion analysts had anticipated. Management and analysts attributed the upside in part to outperformance in the company’s Business Insurance segment, which helped drive margins higher than expected.

Following the quarterly report, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an Overweight rating on Hartford and maintained a $160.00 price target, citing the company’s robust quarterly performance as a reason for its positive stance. Together, the Wells Fargo target increase and Cantor Fitzgerald’s reaffirmation have contributed to a more favorable positioning of Hartford among investors and sell-side analysts.


Implications

Wells Fargo’s target bump and the favorable quarter underscore investor focus on pricing trends in personal lines, distribution channel dynamics, and the earnings trajectory of core commercial insurance operations. The interplay of valuation metrics, product rollouts such as Prevail, and channel-specific growth expectations will likely remain central to how investors and analysts evaluate Hartford going forward.

Risks

  • Competitive pressures in personal insurance lines could constrain pricing power and new business growth - relevant to the insurance and financial sectors.
  • Growth in the direct distribution channel is expected to remain challenging, which may limit Hartford’s ability to expand outside the agency channel - affects distribution dynamics in insurance.
  • Execution risk around scaling Prevail to 30 additional states by early 2027, where slower-than-planned rollouts could temper growth expectations - impacts product expansion plans in the insurance sector.

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